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Anneli Poska

Postdoctoral fellow

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Two pollen-based methods of Eemian climate reconstruction employed in the study of the Żabieniec-Jagodne palaeolakes in central Poland

Author

  • Irena Agnieszka Pidek
  • Anneli Poska
  • Anna Hrynowiecka
  • Dorota Brzozowicz
  • Marcin Żarski

Summary, in English

The aim of the present study was to estimate the range of climate variability in Central Poland during the Eemian Interglacial (MIS 5e). High resolution pollen records are available for all seven RPAZs typical of this interglacial in Central Europe. These pollen records were used to estimate total annual precipitation and mean annual temperature, as well as the mean temperatures of the warmest and the coldest months based on the plant indicator method and the modern analogue technique. The reconstructions indicate that the combination of these two methods provides a much clearer insight into the climate changes of the Eemian optimum. The results confirmed no drastic drop in temperature in the Middle Eemian, with high total precipitation in the hazel phase, and that this was followed by a decrease in temperature in the Late Eemian (fir-spruce and pine phases). A drop in precipitation occurred during the youngest part of the Carpinus phase, while coincided with a marked lowering of the water level in lakes and their transformation into peatbogs. The last part of the Eemian is characterized by decreasing temperature, particularly during the coldest month, rising water levels due to a combination of lower evaporation and higher air humidity, and a transition to glacial conditions. Principal Component Analysis found all investigated sites to follow the same pattern of changes. Mean winter temperature, annual temperature and precipitation were found to have a strong positive correlation with the occurrence of thermophilus temperate broadleaved trees (hazel, linden, and ash) typical for the mid-Eemian optimum. These three factors also have a negative correlation with the presence of cold tolerant boreal trees (birch and pine) and open land taxa characteristic of the beginning and end of the interglacial. Mean July temperature was found to be positively correlated with the occurrence of temperate broadleaved trees (oak, ash and elm) typical for early stages of the Eemian and negatively with that of coniferous trees (fir and spruce) characteristic for later stages of the interglacial.

Department/s

  • MERGE: ModElling the Regional and Global Earth system
  • BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate
  • Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
  • Department of Geology

Publishing year

2022

Language

English

Pages

21-35

Publication/Series

Quaternary International

Volume

632

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Pergamon Press Ltd.

Topic

  • Climate Research
  • Physical Geography

Keywords

  • Central Poland
  • Climate reconstruction
  • Eemian
  • Modern pollen analogues
  • Pollen

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1040-6182