Rainwater contains hydrogen of a heavy form called deuterium. The deuterium content of wood reflects the deuterium content of rainwater available to trees during their growth. Wood from trees that grew between 16,000 and 24,000 years ago in North America contains significantly more deuterium than wood from trees growing today. But water trapped inseveral North American caves that formed during that same early period contains significantly less deuterium than rainwaterin North America contains today. Which of the following, if true, most helps to reconcile the two findings?
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