THE CLIMATE OF MEXICO SINCE THE AZTEC PERIOD

Fluctuations in the climate of Mexico since the Aztec period (1345-199 4) are established using a variety of primary and secondary historical sources. Drought conditions prevailed when the Aztecs entered the Bas in of Mexico, but the climate became wetter shortly after this time an d the period 1345-1640 appears to have been relatively wet. From 1640 to 1915 the country experienced a series of prolonged and devastating droughts which were extremely severe in the mid to late 1700s and the late 1800s. This interval coincides with periods of adverse weather co nditions elsewhere in the world and may represent the period of the Li ttle Ice Age. Since the early 1900s there has been a shift towards som ewhat wetter conditions in Mexico. Variations in precipitation over th is period can be explained by changes in the strength of the summer mo nsoon. (C) 1997 INQUA/Elsevier Science Ltd.