Late Glacial climate in northern Eurasia: The last climatic cycle

Analysis of palynomorphic, Coleoptera, mammalian and geomorphic evidence throughout Europe indicates that three distinctive cooling phases, designated Older, Middle and Younger Dryas, can be recognized during Late Glacial time. Each subsequent cold interval was less intense than the preceding one, with the Younger Dryas representing the warmest of the three episodes. Similarly, the later Allerod interval was warmer and more intense than the earlier Bolling event. Consequently, the overall pattern throughout the Late Glacial-Holocene transition was climatic warming. Climate changes throughout northern Eurasia are directly related to fluctuations in sea level along the Arctic Ocean coast, and to the establishment of anti-cyclones over Siberia and Scandinavia. (C) 1997 INQUA/Elsevier Science Ltd.