Climate and vegetation dynamics in the tundra and forest zone during the Late Glacial and Holocene

Analysis of palynological successions has enabled reconstruction of climate variations throughout the Late Glacial and Holocene in the tundra and forest zones of northern Eurasia. Statistical analysis allows estimation of mean annual precipitation, and mean annual and July temperatures, based on palynological assemblages. Thus, the dynamic relationships between climate and vegetation changes can be established. Throughout the Late Glacial and Holocene, climate fluctuations were more dramatic in eastern Europe than in Siberia, primarily as a result of the influence of westerly air masses. In contrast, the ''autochthonous'' climate of Siberia, dominated by local air masses, was less prone to influence from climate changes elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, and shows only an attenuated Younger Dryas signal. Mid-Holocene warming characterizes all of northern Eurasia, although the regions of Siberia most influenced by continental climates show less pronounced cooling during the later Holocene. Sharp changes between summer monsoonal and winter anti-cyclonic regimes characterize the Pacific Maritime region. (C) 1997 INQUA/Elsevier Science Ltd.