Meghalaya Cave Reveals 6,000 Years of Monsoon History

Times of India · science

Scientists have uncovered nearly 6,200 years of monsoon history from a stalagmite in Meghalaya's Mawsmai Cave. Researchers from IIT Kharagpur and IISER Kolkata found that monsoons over northeastern India were significantly stronger in the past, gradually weakening and experiencing fluctuations. The study, published in Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, indicates the monsoon was strongest between 11,807 and 7,700 years ago, followed by a decline. These findings provide a crucial long-term baseline for understanding monsoon behaviour, vital for a region dependent on seasonal rainfall for agriculture and livelihoods.