Imperial Rain (Do NOT Read)

Imperial Rain

Imperial Rain, published in Science Illustrated's Nov./Dec. 2009 edition, details how a cave in central China provided information that helped explain the rises and falls of dynasties within. In short, a geochemist of the University of Minnesota (Hai Cheng), analyzed rock formations in the Wanxiang cave in the Ginsu province of China. Cheng and his party of researchers from native Chinese universities such as Lanzhou, Nanjing Normal, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences; discovered the chemical composition of a stalagmite in the Wanxiang cave recorded the periodic variations in precipitation over the last 2,000 years in that area. This being important due to the fact stalagmites and stalactites are formed through dripping rain water (from above through the ground) in caves, and the residue of calcium carbonate residue left behind. For this reason, stalagmites and stalactites are accurate archives for precipitation.

The specific Wanxiang stalagmites Hai Cheng discovered had very distinct characteristics. These characteristics included a high growth rate and a high ratio of elements used to date cave formations. The identifiers this sample held could be used to discover more information about the summer monsoons, rainfall, and times of drought in China's history. Using the data found with the stalagmite sample, Cheng was able to confirm three of five dynasties collapsed after decades of "poor" rain seasons. Even so, he also confirmed one of the most prosperous times in China's history (during the reign of the Northern Song dynasty) corresponded with 1,000 years of ample precipitation rates.

In all, this research not only went on to prove and confirm some of the mystery as to why there were declines in China's history... but also helped to support research of other civilizations in other regions of the world. Finding declines in civilizations due to weather is intriguing research. Whether the factors most prominent are temperature or precipitation, both can lead to detriments in a nation's well-being.

While reading through this article, I was not very captured by the author's prose. Even then, I am not even sure who wrote this piece as there is no indication as to who produced it.

The hook was quaint, and told the back story of the lead researcher (Cheng). This set up more slight back story as to China's history and their dynasties. As the author began explaining scientific processes such as precipitation variations seen in stalagmites/stalactites, and low-pressure systems creating monsoons; the article became quite interesting. The author then countered the fascinating part of the article with a Bible-esque run-down of the dynasties (descendants), and "brief" explanations of what happened to each. This was only ended by a subpar conclusion detailing reasons as to WHY the summer monsoons in China have been deteriorating... but only as theories. This single factor brought the entire article down, in my opinion. Paired alongside slightly repetitive storytelling and a lacking vernacular, I view the article as average after the interest.