UAH casts eye on Maya mystery [global warming shills]

Huntsville Times ^ | Monday, April 20, 2009 | Lee Roop

[SunkenCiv]

What destroyed the ancient Mayan civilization that built sophisticated calendars and ruled the Yucatan peninsula for millennia? The answer may be as simple as they cut down the trees. That's the theory from new scientific research developed in large part through University of Alabama in Huntsville satellite analysis technology, Vice President for Research Dr. John Horack says. The "satellite archaeology" technology and its uses in Central America were in the briefing package prepared for President Obama to take to the Conference of the Americas summit, Horack said... The Mayan findings will be presented to the Society of American Archaeologists meeting in Atlanta on Friday, Horack said, and will be featured in the journal Science... The Mayans needed and developed sophisticated mass agricultural techniques, Horack said, but they lacked the technology to drill through the limestone subsurface to groundwater below. Instead, they developed intricate irrigation systems including large underground pools. Cutting the trees for agriculture and building raised the temperature of the land on the peninsula by 2-5 degrees Celsius during the rainy season, scientists now theorize, cutting rainfall up to 30 percent. The result? Intolerable strain on Mayan civilization... Servir is also helping Central American nations answer key questions today about their land and resources, Horack said. Trustees ended their two-day meeting at UAH with an endorsement of Williams.

[SunkenCiv]

Dr. John M. Horack, a senior NASA Executive, Scientist and Entrepreneur has been chosen as the Vice President for Research at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. President Dave Williams, announcing the appointment stated: "I am delighted that John has accepted our offer. John emerged as the top candidate after an exhaustive process led by a national search firm, in conjunction with a committee of university and community research leaders..." ...Dr. Horack will join the university on February 23, 2009.

[SunkenCiv]

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[SunkenCiv]

A growing population might be warming Eastern African nights (4/02/2009)

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Wonder what Roy Spencer has to say? ;-)

[Buckeye McFrog]

Dr. Roy Spencer, a well-known global warming skeptic frequently cited by Rush, is at the Univ. of Alabama-Huntsville. It looks as if Academia is striking back in it’s typical way by giving him a new boss.....

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks. Figures, eh?

[SuziQ]

We saw a TV show recently somewhat related to this subject, but mainly about the deaths of millions of natives after the arrival of the Spanish and Portuguese in Central America in the 1500's. History books, especially those written by the folks who like to bash Dead White European Males, have long blamed those folks for bringing diseases against which the natives had no immunities.

Recent research has shown that it was in fact a native disease that caused those deaths, and that it was brought on by climate change. And no, that change wasn't brought on by CO2 pumped into the air by the evil SUV's of the Europeans. It was a natural change, and after many years of drought, there was rainfall which increased the rodent population, which brought the disease to the natives.

So maybe it was NATURAL climate change, that brought about the destruction of the Mayan civilization, especially if they were not ready for it, and didn't have the knowledge to deal with the consequences of it.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks! There’s also a topic or three on FR regarding the evidence of natural climate cycles from Precolumbian contexts.

[blam]

Historical Review: Megadrought And Megadeath In 16th Century Mexico (Hemorrhagic Fever)

[SuziQ]

Yeah! That was it! It was just fascinating!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks blam!