The temperature of Europe during the Holocene reconstructed from pollen data

Davis, Basil; Brewer, Simon; Stevenson, Tony; Guiot, Joël

doi:10.1016/s0277-3791(03)00173-2

Cited by 891 publications

(759 citation statements)

References 79 publications

(75 reference statements)

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“…This timing of maximum warming is consistent with postglacial climate development in central and northern Europe (e.g. Davis et al, 2003), suggesting strong climate teleconnections to Europe via the westerly wind system (Müller et al, 2009;Renssen et al, 2009;Biskaborn et al, 2012).…”

Section: Regional Comparisonsupporting

confidence: 79%

Holocene climate conditions in central Yakutia (Eastern Siberia) inferred from sediment composition and fossil chironomids of Lake Temje

Nazarova

Lüpfert

Subetto

et al. 2013

Quaternary International

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a b s t r a c tA 380 cm long sediment core from Lake Temje (central Yakutia, Eastern Siberia) was studied to infer Holocene palaeoenvironmental change in the extreme periglacial setting of eastern Siberia during the last 10,000 years. Data on sediment composition were used to characterize changes in the depositional environment during the ontogenetic development of the Lake Temje. The analysis of fossil chironomid remains and statistical treatment of chironomid data by the application of a newly developed regional Russian transfer functions provided inferences of mean July air temperatures (T July ) and water depths (WD). Reconstructed WDs show minor changes throughout the core and range between 80 and 120 cm. All the fluctuations in reconstructed water depth lie within the mean error of prediction of the inference model (RMSEP ¼ 0.35) so it is not possible to draw conclusions from the reconstructions. A qualitative and quantitative reconstruction of Holocene climate in central Yakutia recognized three stages of palaeoenvironmental changes. The early Holocene between 10 and 8 ka BP was characterized by colderthan-today and moist summer conditions. Cryotextures in the lake sediments document full freezing of the lake water during the winter time. A general warming trend started around 8.0 ka BP in concert with enhanced biological productivity. Reconstructed mean T July were equal or up to 1.5 C higher than today between 6.0 ka and 5.0 ka BP. During the entire late Holocene after 4.8 ka BP, reconstructed mean T July remained below modern value. Limnological conditions did not change significantly. The inference of a mid-Holocene climate optimum supports scenarios of Holocene climatic changes in the subpolar part of eastern Siberia and indicates climate teleconnections to the North Atlantic realm.

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Section: Regional Comparisonsupporting

confidence: 79%

Holocene climate conditions in central Yakutia (Eastern Siberia) inferred from sediment composition and fossil chironomids of Lake Temje

Nazarova

Lüpfert

Subetto

et al. 2013

Quaternary International

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“…Significant climatic events occurred in the beginning of the eighth millennium BC in Europe that are responsible for profound changes in the distribution of natural habitats and ecological niches (Guerreschi, 1992;Evin et al, 1994;Broglio and Lanzinger, 1996;Davis et al, 2003;Tinner and Theurillat, 2003;Jalut, 2005;Aceti, 2006;Brugiapaglia, 2007;Badino et al, 2010;Pini et al, 2011). These climatic features certainly conditioned the settlement choices and subsistence strategies of Mesolithic groups (Kozlowski, 1973;Bagolini, 1980;Broglio, 1980;Angelucci, 1997;Guerreschi, 1998).…”

Section: Mesolithic Human Settlements On the Southern Slope Of The Alpsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deep-seated gravitational slope deformations as possible suitable locations for prehistoric human settlements: An example from the Italian Western Alps

Forno

Gattiglio

Gianotti

et al. 2013

Quaternary International

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a b s t r a c tThe Plan di Modzon is a mountain area (2300 m) located in the Verrogne Valley, NW of Aosta (Western Alps). It occurs along the contact between the Middle Penninic (micaschist and gneiss from the Gran San Bernardo Nappe) and the overlying upper units of the Piedmont Zone (carbonate calcschist alternating with marble).This area, largely shaped by Pleistocene glaciers, was involved in a wide deep-seated gravitational slope deformation (Pointe Leysser DSGSD) on the western extension of the Becca France doubled ridges. Several ridges that were affected by glacial erosion, discontinuously covered by glacial sediments, are present throughout the area. Extremely fractured rocks and various gravitational forms (minor scarps and trenches) mark the DSGSD.Several archaeological sites (MF1eMF9) have recently been found between 2242 and 2292 m asl. They have revealed artifacts of rock crystal (hyaline quartz) referred to the Sauveterrian stage of the Mesolithic. An ensemble of other archaeological evidence is referred to the Copper Age. The investigation in progress specifically concerns the systematic excavation of sites MF1 and MF3.Some concomitant morphological factors have created very favorable conditions for prehistoric settlements in the Plan di Modzon area, including the exceptionally wide valley floor directly perched on the main Dora Baltea Valley, in consequence of the Verrogne Glacier diversion promoted by the P. Leysser DSGSD. Easy and direct accessibility to this area is provided by the gently-dipping slope of the Dora Baltea Valley affected by the DSGSD. The ridged and grooved morphology as the result of the glacial and gravitational interaction, offered wide surfaces free from geological hazards (debris flow and avalanche processes). The DSGSD is, therefore, one of the primary causes of the archaeological settlement of this area, contributing to create a morphology adapted to prehistoric settlements.

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“…In addition to using pollen records to investigate vegetation dynamics at individual sites through time, palaeoecologists have used the large amount of information stored in the database to address a range of scientific questions at regional or continental scales, such as (1) the reconstruction of patterns of past climate change through time and space (Davis et al 2003), which in turn is important in studies of general circulation models in the past (Bonfils et al 2004); (2) studies of the spread of plants, especially trees, since the last glaciation (Brewer et al 2002;Terhürne-Berson et al 2004;Giesecke and Bennett 2004;Conedera et al 2004;Krebs et al 2004; Van der Knaap et al 2005;Magri 2008); (3) reconstructions of past plant distribution patterns which allow testing of our understanding of factors limiting these and models that attempt to capture them (Giesecke et al 2007;Liepelt et al 2008) and increased precision in past land-cover reconstructions Broström et al 2008;Caseldine et al 2008). In addition, knowledge of pollen-inferred past landcover changes allows evaluation of the consequences and legacies of past land-use and provides information on the dynamic responses of vegetation to a constantly changing environment.…”

Section: Role Of the Epdmentioning

confidence: 99%

The European Pollen Database: past efforts and current activities

Fyfe

Beaulieu²,

Binney

et al. 2009

Veget Hist Archaeobot

116

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Pollen stratigraphies are the most spatially extensive data available for the reconstruction of past landcover change. Detailed knowledge of past land-cover is becoming increasingly important to evaluate the present trends in, and drivers of, vegetation composition. The European Pollen Database (EPD) was established in the late 1980s and developed in the early 1990s to provide a structure for archiving, exchanging, and analysing Quaternary pollen data from Europe. It provides a forum for scientists to meet and engage in collaborative investigations or data analysis. In May 2007 several EPD support groups were developed to assist in the task of maintaining and updating the database. The mapping and data accuracy work group (MADCAP) aims to produce an atlas of past plant distributions as detected by pollen analyses in Europe, in order to meet the growing need for this data from palaeoecologists and the wider scientific community. Due to data handling problems in the past, a significant number of EPD datasets have errors. The initial task of the work group, therefore, was a systematic review of pollen sequences, in order to identify and correct errors. The EPD currently (January 2009) archives 1,032 pollen sequences, of which 668 have age-depth models that allow chronological comparison. Many errors have been identified and corrected, or flagged for users, most notably errors in the pollen count data. The application of spatial analyses to 123Veget Hist Archaeobot (2009) 18:417-424 DOI 10.1007 pollen data is related to the number of data points that are available for analysis. We therefore take this opportunity to encourage the submission of pollen analytical results to the EPD or other relevant pollen databases. Only in this way will the scientific community be able to gain a better understanding of past vegetation dynamics.

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The temperature of Europe during the Holocene reconstructed from pollen data

Cited by 891 publications

References 79 publications

Holocene climate conditions in central Yakutia (Eastern Siberia) inferred from sediment composition and fossil chironomids of Lake Temje

Holocene climate conditions in central Yakutia (Eastern Siberia) inferred from sediment composition and fossil chironomids of Lake Temje

Deep-seated gravitational slope deformations as possible suitable locations for prehistoric human settlements: An example from the Italian Western Alps

The European Pollen Database: past efforts and current activities

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