How dry was dry? - Late Pleistocene palaeoclimates in the Namib Desert

Evidence for Late Quaternary changes in climate in the Namib Desert is geographically scattered and often poorly dated. The available evidence suggests periods of increased river discharge and groundwater flow centered on 8-12, 20-24, and 26-32 ka BP. Based on modern analogues, these palaeohydrologic changes likely involved increased rainfall and runoff in the escarpment zone east of the desert. There is little evidence to suggest significantly increased rainfall within the desert during these periods, except perhaps during the interval prior to 26 ka BP. These data reinforce earlier conclusions that the Namib has experienced mostly arid to hyperarid conditions throughout the Quaternary. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.