Late Quaternary vegetation reconstruction from the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania

Pollen, spore, macrofossil and stable isotope (C and N) analyses from a 266-cm sediment core collected from a swamp on the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania, are used to reconstruct vegetation and environmental history. An estimated time scale based on five ¹⁴C ages records approximately 38,000 yr. This palaeorecord is the first from this biodiversity hotspot and importantly extends through the last glacial maximum (LGM). The altitudinal transition from montane to upper montane forest shifted from 1700-1800 m (38,000 ¹⁴C yr BP) to 1800-1900 m (35,000-29,000 ¹⁴C yr BP). From 29,000 to 10,000 ¹⁴C yr BP, it shifted from 1850-1950 m across the LGM to 1750-1800 m (during 10,000-3500 ¹⁴C yr BP), and to present-day elevations at 2000 m during the last 3500 ¹⁴C yr BP. The relative ecosystem stability across the LGM may be explained by the Indian Ocean's influence in maintaining continuous moist forest cover during a period of East African regional climate aridity. During the late Holocene, presence of abundant coprophilous fungi and algal blooms demonstrates increasing human impact. Neurospora spores indicate frequent fires, coinciding with clear signals of decline in Podocarpus and Psychotria trees that possibly represent selective logging.     

甘肃疏勒河冲积扇绿洲全新世孢粉组合和环境演化

通过甘肃疏勒河冲积扇九道沟下游剖面(JDG)沉积物系统的孢粉分析,探讨了这一极干旱区全新世植被和气候环境演化.约4.3 m厚沉积剖面的孢粉组合特征清楚地反映了研究区全新世植被经历了6个发展演替阶段,从老而新依次为:针叶林为主的针阔混交林-灌丛草原;灌丛草原;疏林灌木草原;针叶树为主的针阔混交林-灌丛草原;草原植被;针叶林-灌木草原.与植被发展演替相对应的气候环境经历了凉较湿→温干→暖湿→温较湿→温干→凉较湿的变化.这些结果对于了解该地区全新世气候演化以及中国西北干旱区未来环境预测方面都具有重要意义.     

Holocene History of the Chocó Rain Forest from Laguna Piusbi, Southern Pacific Lowlands of Colombia

A high-resolution pollen record from a 5-m-long sediment core from the closed-lake basin Laguna Piusbi in the southern Colombian Pacific lowlands of Chocó, dated by 11 AMS¹⁴C dates that range from ca. 7670 to 220¹⁴C yr B.P., represents the first Holocene record from the Chocó rain forest area. The interval between 7600 and 6100¹⁴C yr B.P. (500–265 cm), composed of sandy clays that accumulated during the initial phase of lake formation, is almost barren of pollen. Fungal spores and the presence of herbs and disturbance taxa suggest the basin was at least temporarily inundated and the vegetation was open. The closed lake basin might have formed during an earthquake, probably about 4400¹⁴C yr B.P. From the interval of about 6000¹⁴C yr B.P. onwards, 200 different pollen and spore types were identified in the core, illustrating a diverse floristic composition of the local rain forest. Main taxa are Moraceae/Urticaceae,Cecropia,Melastomataceae/Combretaceae,Acalypha, Alchornea,Fabaceae,Mimosa, Piper, Protium, Sloanea, Euterpe/Geonoma, Socratea,andWettinia.Little change took place during that time interval. Compared to the pollen records from the rain forests of the Colombian Amazon basin and adjacent savannas, the Chocó rain forest ecosystem has been very stable during the late Holocene. Paleoindians probably lived there at least since 3460¹⁴C yr B.P. Evidence of agricultural activity, shown by cultivation ofZea maissurrounding the lake, spans the last 1710 yr. Past and present very moist climate and little human influence are important factors in maintaining the stable ecosystem and high biodiversity of the Chocó rain forest.     

Paleogeography of the Laptev Sea eastern shelf in the first half of Holocene based on faunal and palynological evidence

The Holocene paleogeography of the Laptev Sea eastern shelf is reconstructed based on mollusks, foraminifers, ostracodes, spores and pollen found for the first time. Environmental changes in the course of the postglacial (Holocene) transgression are detectable from quantitative analysis of three ostracod assemblages. Three phases of the transgression are established based on ostracode assemblages from the AMS ¹⁴C-dated core from the ancient valley of Yana River, central part of the Laptev Sea eastern shelf. After the first phase of coastal brackish-water environment (11.3–11.1 ka), shallow-water marine taxa appeared in the transitional phase (11.1–10.3 ka), and the third phase of modern sea conditions commenced 10.3 ka ago. Spore and pollen assemblages from the core indicate that the early Holocene land vegetation was dominated by tundra plant communities adapted to climatic conditions not warmer than at present. In the interval of 9.3–8.0 ka, climate was increasingly humid and warm, and forest-tundra vegetation occupied more favorable zones of the region.     

Stability of Holocene Climate Regimes in the Yellowstone Region

A 12,500-yr pollen record from Loon Lake, Wyoming provides information on the climate history of the southwestern margin of Yellowstone National Park. The environmental reconstruction was used to evaluate hypotheses that address spatial variations in the Holocene climate of mountainous regions. Loon Lake lies within the summer-dry/winter-wet climate regime. An increase in xerophytic pollen taxa suggests drier-than-present conditions between ca. 9500 and 5500 ¹⁴ C yr B.P. This response is consistent with the hypothesis that increased summer radiation and the expansion of the east Pacific subtropical high-pressure system in the early Holocene intensified summer drought at locations within the summer-dry/winter-wet regime. This climate history contrasts with that of nearby sites in the summer-wet/winter-dry region, which were under the influence of stronger summer monsoonal circulation in the early Holocene. The Loon Lake record implies that the location of contrasting climate regimes did not change in the Yellowstone region during the Holocene. The amplitude of the regimes, however, was determined by the intensity of circulation features and these varied with temporal changes in the seasonal distribution of solar radiation.     

Reconstructing climate variability on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau since the last Lateglacial – a multi-proxy,dual-site approach comparing terrestrial and aquatic signals

A sediment core from a closed basin lake (Lake Kuhai) from the semi-arid northeastern Tibetan Plateau was analysed for its pollen record to infer Lateglacial and post glacial vegetation and climatic change. At Lake Kuhai five major vegetation and climate shifts could be identified: (1) a change from cold and dry to relatively warmer and more moist conditions at 14.8 cal ka BP; (2) a shift to conditions of higher effective moisture and a stepwise warmer climate at 13.6 cal ka BP; (3) a further shift with increased moisture but colder conditions at 7.0 cal ka BP; (4) a return to a significantly colder and drier phase at 6.3 cal ka BP; (5) and a change back to relatively moist conditions at 2.2 cal ka BP. To investigate the response of lake ecosystems to climatic changes, statistical comparisons were made between the Lake Kuhai pollen record and a formerly published ostracod and sedimentary record from the same sediment core. Furthermore, the pollen and lacustrine proxies from Lake Kuhai were compared to a previously published pollen and lacustrine record from the nearby Lake Koucha. Statistical comparisons were done using non-metric multidimensional scaling and Procrustes rotation. Differences between lacustrine and pollen responses within one site could be identified, suggesting that lacustrine proxies are partly influenced by in-lake or local catchment processes, whereas the terrestrial (pollen) proxy shows a regional climate signal. Furthermore, we found regional differences in proxy response between Lake Kuhai and Lake Koucha. Both pollen records reacted in similar ways to major environmental changes, with minor differences in the timing and magnitude of these changes. The lacustrine records were very similar in their timing and magnitude of response to environmental changes; however, the nature of change was at times very distinct. To place the current study in the context of Holocene moisture evolution across the Tibetan Plateau, we applied a five-scale moisture index and average link clustering to all available continuous palaeo-climate records from the Tibetan Plateau to possibly find general patterns of moisture evolution on the Plateau. However, no common regional pattern of moisture evolution during the Holocene could be detected. We assign this to complex responses of different proxies to environmental and atmospheric changes in an already very heterogeneous mountain landscape where minor differences in elevation can cause strong variation in microenvironments.     

陇西黄土高原马兰黄土划分与末次冰期气候快速变化研究

陇西黄土高原马兰黄土内存在９个弱成壤组（层），记录末次冰期内多达２２个间冰段气候的环境状况。马兰黄土中部古土壤是末次冰期大间冰段的记录，共有上、中、下３层古土壤，含１１个亚层，尤以下层古土壤发育最好，表明当时气候较温暖湿润。     

苏拉威西海周边地区全新世植被演化及气候变化

全新世时期的环境和气候变化是全球气候模拟、预测中不可或缺的资料.对苏拉威西海西北部MD98-2178孔(3.6200°N,118.7000°E,水深1 984 m)全新世的样品进行孢粉分析和浮游有孔虫氧稳定同位素测试,重建全新世苏拉威西海周边地区植被演化和气候变化图景.根据孢粉记录得到:在全新世早期至7 ka BP时,各孢粉组合浓度剧烈下降,指示海平面处于上升阶段;在7~4 ka BP时,各孢粉组合浓度都处于低谷,体现为高海平面期;在4 ka BP之后,孢粉记录则显示海平面有小幅的下降.在全新世中期,即5~4 ka BP,热带高山雨林花粉含量明显上升,表明是温度低值期.蕨类孢子记录显示降雨量在全新世早期是持续增加的,但在全新世中期之后,降雨量有所减少,这与陆地孢粉记录和印尼石笋记录的结果相似,体现全新世该地区降雨量受海陆格局和太阳活动共同影响.      

南海北部深海花粉记录的环境演变

本文报道了南海北部深海沉积物中花粉的研究结果。所研究的17940孔长13．30m,包括最近4万年的沉积物。共鉴定统计103个样品,样品间距10cm,分辨率约为360a,自下而上分为3个花粉带和8个亚带。P1带(13．06～8．70m,约37000～15000aB．P．)以山地针叶树(Picea,Abies,Tsuga)花粉高含量组合与蒿属花粉占优势组合交替出现为特征,指示冷湿及温干频繁交替的气候。根据氧同位素资料该带相当于3期及本次盛冰期。P2带前期(P2-a亚带,8．70～7．23m,约15000～11300aB．P．)热带-亚热带常绿阔叶乔木花粉增加指示气候变暖,其中14000aB．P．前后红树林的高峰可能是海平面一度上升的结果;P2带后期P2-b亚带(7．23～660m,约11300～10000aB．p．)高山雨林及山地针叶树花粉增加指示气候变冷。根据氧同位素资料P2－a亚带与Bφlling－Allerφd升温期相当,而P2－b亚带属新仙女木期。P3带(660～0m,10000aB．P．至现在)为全新世,花粉组合以松属花粉占绝对优势,与现代南海北部表层沉积物中花粉组合相似,说明近万年以来南海北部气候与现代气候相近。近1400年来芒其孢子突然增加说明人类活动加剧。     

Abrupt Climatic Changes during the Last Glaciation Based on Pollen Analysis of the Abric Romani, Catalonia, Spain

The Abric Romani continental pollen record provides evidence of abrupt climate variations during the last glaciation. The pollen record reveals a pattern of high-frequency variations similar to that in ice cores as shown by oxygen isotopes or dust content. Analyses of 14 travertine samples yield coherent U-series ages in correct stratigraphic order, ranging from 40,000 to 70,000 yr. According to changes in the composition and structure of the vegetation, five paleoclimatic phases have been differentiated; the oldest, ranging from 70,200 to 65,500 yr ago, records thermophilous taxa which correspond to the last warm events of isotopic stage 5. The next phase, from 65,500 to 56,800 yr, records a cold, humid climate that correlates with isotope stage 4. During the third phase, from 56,800 to 49,500 yr, relatively warm and cold events alternate. The fourth phase, from 49,500 to 46,200 yr, records a cold, dry climate. The fifth phase, ranging from 46,200 to 40,800 yr, records a milder phase that is similar in appearance to the beginning of the Holocene.     

Late Quaternary vegetation,climate and fire dynamics inferred from the El Tiro record in the southeastern Ecuadorian Andes

In order to study the stability and dynamics of mountain rainforest and paramo ecosystems, including the biodiversity of these ecosystems, the Holocene and late Pleistocene climate and fire variability, and human impact in the southeastern Ecuadorian Andes, we present a high‐resolution pollen record from El Tiro Pass (2810 m elevation), Podocarpus National Park. Palaeoenvironmental changes, investigated by pollen, spores and charcoal analysis, inferred from a 127 cm long core spanning the last ca. 21 000 cal. yr BP, indicate that grass‐paramo was the main vegetation type at the El Tiro Pass during the late Pleistocene period. The grass‐paramo was rich in Poaceae, Plantago rigida and Plantago australis, reflecting cold and moist climatic conditions. During the early Holocene, from 11 200 to 8900 cal. yr BP, subparamo and upper mountain rainforest vegetation expanded slightly, indicating a slow warming of climatic conditions during this period. From 8900 to 3300 cal. yr BP an upper mountain rainforest developed at the study site, indicated by an increase in Hedyosmun, Podocarpaceae, Myrsine and Ilex. This suggests a warmer climate than the present day at this elevation. The modern subparamo vegetation became established since 3300 cal. yr BP at El Tiro Pass. Fires, probably anthropogenic origin, were very rare during the late Pleistocene but became frequent after 8000 cal. yr BP. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Late Quaternary vegetational and climatic change in the Popayán region,southern Colombian Andes

Late Pleistocene and Holocene vegetational and climatic change have been studied palynologically at a site at 1750 m elevation in the subandean vegetation belt near Popayán, in the southern Colombian Andes. Time control on the pollen record is based on six AMS ¹⁴C ages, ranging from possibly Middle Pleniglacial time (around 50000 yr BP) to 1092 ± 44 yr BP. Because of the presence of two hiatuses only the Middle Pleniglacial and Late Holocene periods (the last 2300 yr BP) are represented. Pollen data indicate the presence of closed subandean forest during glacial time. Changes in the contribution of pollen originating from the uppermost and lowermost subandean forest belts, changes in the contribution of a number of other subandean forest taxa, and changes in species composition between the three pollen zones, suggest that the climate during the Middle Pleniglacial was markedly colder, and perhaps also wetter, than during the Late Holocene. Pollen assemblages from the Late Holocene indicate that the landscape has been affected by deforestation and agriculture since at least 2300 yr BP, but that human impact decreased in the last 780 yr BP. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mollusk record of millennial climate variability in the Loess Plateau during the Last Glacial Maximum

A high-resolution terrestrial mollusk record from the Loess Plateau of China has been studied to characterize climate variability during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The rapid successions in mollusk taxa in the Weinan loess sequence reveal that climate changes occurred at least four times in this period. In the loess region, millennia-scale climate fluctuations existed, as documented in the grain size and weathering intensity records. Our results show such millennia-scale fluctuations reflecting changes in both temperature and precipitation, rather than a simple cold and warm alternation. Changes in temperature and precipitation were not in phase during the LGM. Temperature varied earlier than precipitation, which could have been the effect of winter and summer monsoon interactions. Our data also reveal that the East Asian summer monsoons could reach the southeast part of the Loess Plateau during the whole of the LGM. The intensification of winter monsoons during the LGM led to short duration of summer monsoons annually impacting on the Loess Plateau, but the intrinsic intensity of summer monsoons would not have changed significantly, thus providing the thermo-hydrological conditions for temperate-humidiphilous mollusks to persistently grow and develop in the glacial age.     

太湖平原西北部全新世古河道沉积特征及环境演变

粒度、磁化率定量数据分析在判明第四系沉积物的来源、识别沉积分异作用、解译古沉积相和环境方面有着重要作用。对太湖平原西北部卜弋桥ZK01钻孔上部全新统如东组进行了粒度和磁化率测试分析,结合该孔孢粉成果,揭示研究区全新世古河道沉积环境和气候明显经历了3个阶段:1)11000—9500cal.aBP,沉积物主要由粉砂组成,粒度证据表明水动力条件较强,孢粉证据显示该阶段气候较温暖湿润;2)9500—3900cal.aBP,沉积物砂组分含量大幅增加,粒度资料显示古河道水动力明显增强,孢粉植被表明该时期处于全新世大暖期,气候暖湿稳定;3)3900cal.aBP以来,粉砂组分在沉积物中占优势,粒度结果表明该阶段水动力显著减弱,孢粉资料和磁化率证据表明研究区自该阶段特别是后期以来逐步出现了明显的人类活动迹象。     

Changing palynological methods and their role in three successive interpretations of the late-glacial environments at Bucyrus Bog, Ohio, USA

The pollen stratigraphy of Bucyrus Bog records the major shifts in the spruce ecotone of the mid-western North American late-glacial. The site has been studied three times: in 1930 by Paul Sears, in 1958 by Johannes Iversen, and in 1986–88 by my self. This paper examines these data sets from a historical perspective. The pollen record is basically consistent; all investigators interpret it to show the classic late-glacial warming plus a subsequent, more controversial climate reversal. Sears saw a progressive shift from cold/moist to warm/ dry climate, with a moisture reversal near the top of the record. Iversen and I both correlate the record with the European Late-Glacial climatic sequence, including an AUerød/Younger Dryas reversal. Iversen's interpretation depends on exclusion of thermophilous deciduous pollen taxa, placing the cold reversal during the spruce decline. I include the deciduous taxa, placing the cold reversal at the time of a spruce recurrence above the expansion of deciduous types. All interpretations are strongly influenced by current technology and prevailing thinking at the time of the investigation.     

Glacial and Holocene terrestrial temperature variability in subtropical east Australia as inferred from branched GDGT distributions in a sediment core from Lake McKenzie

Branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT) distributions observed in a sediment core from Lake McKenzie were utilized to quantitatively reconstruct the pattern of mean annual air temperature (MAAT) from coastal subtropical eastern Australia between 37 and 18.3 cal ka BP and 14.0 cal ka BP to present. Both the reconstructed trend and amplitude of MAAT changes from the top of the sediment core were nearly identical to a local instrumental MAAT record from Fraser Island, providing confidence that in this sediment core branched GDGTs could be used to produce a quantitative record of past MAAT. The reconstructed trend of MAAT during 37 to 18.3 cal ka BP and timing of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) in the Lake McKenzie record were in agreement with previously published nearby marine climate records. The amplitude of lower-than-present MAAT during the LGM potentially provides information on the latitude of separation of the Tasman Front from the East Australian current in the subtropical western Pacific. The Lake McKenzie record shows an earlier onset of near modern day warm temperatures in the early Holocene compared to marine records and the presence of a warmer than present day period during the mid-Holocene.     

Transgressive Events since the Late Pleistocene in the Yellow River Delta: Grain-size Distribution and Palynological Results

This study deals with the relationship between sea-level changes and paleoclimatic fluctuations based on the analysis of stratigraphy, grain sizes, palynology, and radiometric dating of the Yellow River delta since the Late Pleistocene. Evidence from the sedimentary record, grain sizes, and pollen provides a paleoenvironmental history of the Late Pleistocene from the boreholes of the delta. Based on a combination of grain-size analysis with lithological studies, marine deposit units contain the intervals of 13.85–16.9, 18.5–19.69, 27.9–34.8, 36.4–37.2, 48.4–51.6, and 54.1–55.9 m, and transitional facies units contain the intervals of 10.25–13.85, 16.9–18.5, 19.69–27.9, 34.8–36.4, 37.2–48.4, 51.6–54.1, and 55.9–60 m, compared with fluvial(terrestrial facies) deposit units(3.36–10.25 m). Based on pollen analysis and pollen assemblages, there were three warm-wet periods from 9.1–0.16 ka BP, 16.1–60 ka BP, and 90.1–94.6 ka BP From the top to the bottom of the borehole, the paleoclimate has an evident fluctuation: warm and moist(Holocene Optimum) —cool and dry(Younger Dryas Event)—mild semi cool—cool and dry—warm and moist. There were three warm-wet periods from 9.1–0.16 ka BP, 16.1–60 ka BP, and 90.1–94.6 ka BP, corresponding to the Holocene Optimum stage, MIS 3, and MIS 5, respectively. The warm period allowed monsoonal evergreen and broadleaved deciduous forests that corresponded to Holocene hypsithermal climatic conditions and the Late Pleistocene climatic Optimum. Three warm-wet periods occurred in marine deposit units from 9.1–0.16 ka BP, 60.1–16.1 ka BP, and 94.6–90.1 ka BP. These periods correspond to the Cangzhou transgression, Xianxian transgression, and Huanghua transgression, respectively. From 90.1–60.1 ka BP, 17.5–9.1 ka BP, and 0. 16 ka BP–1855 AD, three dry and cold phases are recognized. The phases indicate the fluvial(flood plain) sedimentary environment, corresponding to cooler and mild dry periods based on palynological results and grain-size distribution.     

长江下游巢湖9870cal.aB.P.以来孢粉记录的环境演变

根据对巢湖490cm湖泊沉积物柱样7个AMS¹⁴C年龄的测定以及98个孢粉样品的分析,植物种类分属于86个（科）属,可以划分为6个孢粉组合带:孢粉带Ⅰ（9870～6040cal.aB.P.）代表了末次冰期之后全新世温暖气候到来之前气候转暖的早全新世过渡时期,气候呈现温和略干的特点,其中亚带Ⅰ-1（9870～7700cal.aB.P.）,Ⅰ-2（7700～6250cal.aB.P.）和Ⅰ-3（6250～6040cal.aB.P.）分别对应温暖湿润→温暖较湿→温和干燥的气候波动;孢粉带Ⅱ（6040～4860cal.aB.P.）代表中全新世温暖湿润期,水热配置条件最佳;孢粉带Ⅲ（4860～2170cal.aB.P.）体现中全新世后期温和干燥的气候,约2170cal.aB.P.干旱程度达到最高;孢粉带Ⅳ（2170～1040cal.aB.P.）反映巢湖流域由干燥向湿润气候的转型,气候总体上温和湿润;孢粉带Ⅴ（1040～200cal.aB.P.）反映了晚全新世巢湖流域温凉稍湿的气候;孢粉带Ⅵ（200cal.aB.P.至今）则体现巢湖流域处在相对温暖湿润的时期。植被类型演替大体为:以壳斗科的落叶、常绿属种为主的落叶阔叶、常绿阔叶混交林→以落叶栎类、栗属、青冈属和栲/石栎属为主的落叶阔叶、常绿阔叶混交林→以落叶栎类占绝对优势的落叶阔叶、常绿阔叶混交林→以禾本科为主的草地→以禾本科、蒿属和蓼属等为主的草丛。     

Holocene vegetation and climate change in southern New Zealand: linkages between forest composition and quantitative surface moisture reconstructions from an ombrogenous bog

This paper presents a Holocene pollen record from an ombrotrophic bog in Southland, New Zealand, together with multiproxy data (testate amoebae, peat humification and plant macrofossils) from the same core to establish an independent semiquantitative record of peatland surface moisture. Linkages between reconstructed peatland surface moisture and regional forest composition are investigated using redundancy analysis of the forest pollen data constrained with predicted bog water‐table depths. Over 32% of the pollen data variance can be explained by surface moisture changes in the bog, suggesting a common cause of water‐table and regional vegetation change. Water tables were higher during the early to mid‐Holocene when the forest was dominated by podocarp taxa. Water tables lowered after about 3300 cal. yr BP coevally with the expansion of Nothofagus species, culminating with the dominance of Nothofagus subgenus Fuscospora in the past 1200 cal. yr BP. This is in apparent opposition to the warm/dry to cool/wet trend suggested by subjective interpretation of pollen data alone, from this and other studies. We suggest that during the late Holocene, drier summers associated with shifts in solar insolation caused reduced surface wetness and summer humidity, which together with a trend to cooler winters, apparently favoured the regeneration of Nothofagus species. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An environmental snapshot of the Bølling interstadial in Southern Iberia

The Bølling–Allerød interstadial is the closest warm time period to the Holocene. The study of the climate variability during this most recent warm scenario provides a natural record of potential environmental changes related with global temperature variations. Little is known about this interstadial in the Southern Iberian Peninsula. Therefore, the exceptional climatic record of the Otiñar paleo-lake (ca. 14.5–14.0 cal ka BP), provides environmental information about the first part of this interstadial (Bølling) in this key region. Although the studied high-resolution isotopic record point to almost invariant hydrological conditions in the paleo-lake, with little change in the carbon budget and important limestone dissolution, the pollen record shows an increase in forest species that can be interpreted as a warming trend and an increase in humidity during the Bølling in the area. This record is one of the few continental archives that show this climatic trend in Southern Iberia, agreeing with many other regional records from the western Mediterranean. This does not agree with higher latitude records that show an opposite trend. This opposite pattern in precipitation between the western Mediterranean and more northern latitudes could be explained by a persistent and increasing negative NAO mode during the Bølling in this area.