The development of reliable paleoclimatic maps at a global scale requires data at the following three levels of analysis: (1) well-recorded observations of evenly positioned, well-dated geological evidence (Level I), (2) paleoclimatic estimates derived from this evidence by well-defined quantitative repeatable methods (Level II), and (3) maps synthesizing the estimates from several independent sources of geological evidence (Level III). Our paper describes much of the currently available paleoclimatic data from unglaciated terrestrial areas at ca. 18,000 yr B.P. and illustrates the quantity and quality of the data at both the Level I and the Level II stages of analysis. Although the scarcity of well-dated evidence for this time period precluded any major Level III syntheses of the information, comparisons were drawn where possible between the geological evidence and the climatic conditions simulated by general-circulation model experiments of Gates (1976a, b) and Manabe and Hahn (1977). Of the more than 320 sites with data from 18,000 yr B.P., only 65 are well-dated with bracketing dates within the interval of 23,000 to 13,000 yr B.P., whereas about 100 are undated or poorly dated. We concentrated our survey on palynological and paleobotanical evidence and also thoroughly reviewed the evidence for water levels in lakes at 18,000 yr B.P. In areas with few of these sources of evidence, data on former snowlines, periglacial features, and eolian deposits were included, but the survey of these data is far from complete. Maps of the assembled data reveal the consistency of the paleoclimatic estimates in “data-rich” areas and also show which areas required additional information. The maps show that conditions were colder than present at 18,000 yr B.P. for all sites with temperature estimates. Estimated temperature depressions varied from ca. 1° to 12°C or more, depending on the location of the sample, the type of geological evidence, and the method of temperature estimation. Interpreted hydrological conditions were more variable spatially than the temperature estimates. The southwestern U.S. was moister than present, whereas the southeast may have been drier. Europe and the northern Mediterranean across to Afghanistan were drier than present, but northwest Africa was wetter. Australia was mainly drier than present, but several sites there as well as in Africa show significant climatic changes between 21,000 year period and 16,000 yr B.P. This latter evidence suggests that considerable variability may have occurred during the several thousand-centered on 18,000 yr B.P. Accurate time control is therefore required for the geological data used to study the climate dynamics of 18,000 yr ago. Large portions of South America and Asia as well as significant portions of the other continents lack the data base, or at least the well-dated base, required to define the 18,000 yr B.P. climate. In the few areas where comparisons were made with the Ice Age climates simulated by general-circulation models, general agreement existed between the geological evidence and the model simulations. Many critical comparisons were thwarted, however, by the lack of model simulations for all seasons at 18,000 yr B.P. Difficulty in validating precipitation anomalies in the tropics also arose because surface-albedo values, which are a vital input to the general circulation models, are estimated from the same evidence that is used to validate the results of the models.

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Four pollen diagrams from Maine, New York, and Pennsylvania provide fine resolution (40 or 80 years) records of vegetation change in northeastern United States during the past 2000 years. A long term increase in pollen accumulation rates (PAR) of Picea occurred at the three sites in Maine and New York. Around 1100 years ago, Tsuga and Fagus decreased and Quercus and Castanea increased at Ely Lake in northeastern Pennsylvania. Around 500 years ago, Tsuga and Fagus greatly decreased in Maine and northern New York, while in northeastern Pennsylvania there was an increase in Tsuga and Fagus and a decrease in Quercus and Castanea pollen. Non-arboreal PAR were negligible prior to the European settlement of the area, after which there was an abrupt increase in non-arboreal pollen types.Quatre diagrammes polliniques des états du Maine, de New York et de Pennsylvanie illustrent de manière détaillée (40 ou 80 ans) les changements survenus dans la végétation du nord-est des États-Unis sur une période de 2000 ans. Les trois diagrammes des états du Maine et de New York enregistrent un accroissement continu de l'influx pollinique (PAR) de Picea. Il y a environ 1100 ans, Tsuga et Fagus ont subi une diminution, tandis que Quercus et Castanea ont augmenté à Ely Lake, dans le nord-est de la Pennsylvanie. Il y a 500 ans, Tsuga et Fagus ont considérablement diminué dans les états du Maine et de New York, alors que leur représentation pollinique augmentait dans le nord-est de la Pennsylvanie et que Quercus et Castanea diminuaient. Les influx polliniques des herbacés étaient minimes avant l'arrivée des Européens dans la région, après quoi ces taxons ont connu une augmentation subite.Vier Pollen-Diagramme von Maine, New York und Pennsylvania geben detaillierte Auflôsungs-Nachweise der Vegetationswechsel im Nordosten der Vereinigten Staaten wàhrend der letzten 2000 Jahre. Ein langfristiges Anwachsen der Pollen-Akkumulationsraten (PAR) von Picea trat an den drei Fundstellen in Maine und im Staat New York auf. Vor ungefàhr 11000 Jahren, nahmen am Ely-See in Nordost-Pennsylvania Tsuga and Fagus ab und Quercus und Castanea zu. Vor ungefàhr 500 Jahren nahmen in Maine und im Norden des staats New York Tsuga und Fagus stark ab, wàhrend in Nordost-Pennsylvania Tsuga und Fagus zunahmen und Quercus und Casfanea-Pollen abnahmen. Die nicht von Bàumen stammenden PAR waren gering, bevor das Gebiet von Europàern besiedelt wurde, wàhrend danach die nicht von Bàumen stammenden Pollenarten plôtzlich anwuchsen

The percentages of Ambrosia-type pollen increase in the upper few centimeters of many North American cores of lake sediments or bog peats, For much of eastern North America south of 50 °N, this increase is easily recognizable in pollen diagrams and indicates the time when persons of European origin settled in an area. The actual biostratigraphic proof that this "Ambrosia rise" occurs with settlement requires correlating the Ambrosia rise with the first appearance or the rise in abundance of pollen types from both cultivated and non-native plants. This requirement is particularly important in the Midwest where Ambrosia is a native weed. Our results illustrate the potential of Cannabis/Humulus pollen as an indicator of settlement and cultivation in Iowa.

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