Fig. 1: Hyperarid Central Arabia is at the interface between two moisture-bearing systems.
From: Recurrent humid phases in Arabia over the past 8 million years
a, Modern precipitation of the Arabian Peninsula, showing the location of our study site (black star) and other discussed speleothem sites, and Oceanic Drilling Program (ODP) sites 721/722 and 982. b,c, Percentage contribution of autumn and winter precipitation (September–February; b) and of spring and summer precipitation (March–August; c). The black arrows show general wind patterns. Data sourced from WorldClim dataset43. d, Detailed view (Landsat false-colour RGB, 7,4,1) of the region where surveys took place (surveyed caves represented as black points). Speleothems used in this study were retrieved from caves (n = 7) represented by blue triangles: 1, Kahf al alf Janah/كهف الألف جناح (1,000 Wings Cave); 2, Kahf at Tahaaleb/كهف الطحالب (Mossy Cave); 3, Kahf Assadaqah/كهف الصداقة (Friendship Cave); 4, Kahf Almorabbaa/كهف المربع (Murubbeh Cave); 5, EP19.8; 6, Kahf Alfakhamah/كهف الفخامة (Luxury Cave); 7, Kahf al Fondoq/كهف الفندق (Hotel Cave).
