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Quantitative reconstruction of climate variability during the Eemian (Merkinė) and Weichselian (Nemunas) in Lithuania

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Vaida Šeirienė ,
Norbert Kühl  and
Dalia Kisielienė
Vaida Šeirienė*
Affiliation:
Nature Research Centre, Institute of Geology and Geography, T. Ševčenkos 13, 03223 Vilnius, Lithuania
Norbert Kühl
Affiliation:
Steinmann-Institute of Geology, Mineralogy and Paleontology, University of Bonn, Nussallee 8, 53115 Bonn, Germany
Dalia Kisielienė
Affiliation:
Nature Research Centre, Institute of Geology and Geography, T. Ševčenkos 13, 03223 Vilnius, Lithuania
*
*Corresponding author at: Institute of Geology and Geography, Nature Research Centre, T. Ševčenkos str. 13, LT-03223, Lithuania. Fax: + 370 2104695.E-mail address:seiriene@geo.lt (V. Šeirienė).
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Abstract

Little is known concerning climate changes in the Eastern Baltic region during the last interglacial–glacial cycle and in particular, climate changes during the Weichselian. In this study, a quantitative reconstruction of the mean January and July temperature for the Medininkai-117 site in Lithuania is presented. The reconstruction is based on pollen and plant macrofossils from this site, which reveal that the vegetation was characteristic of many northern Europe sites during the Eemian and Early Weichselian. Gradual evolution of the vegetation suggests that relatively uniform climate conditions existed during the Eemian. Our reconstructions support the view of a relatively stable Eemian, with short cooling phases of low amplitude. A strong increase in temperature was apparent during the beginning of the interglacial and decrease during the transition to the Weichselian. Reconstructed July temperatures of the Eemian interglacial were approximately 2 °C higher than today (18.5 °C; today: 16.2 °C) and were similar to today for January (−5.2 °C; today: −5.1 °C). July temperatures during the Early Weichselian were only ~2°C lower than during the Eemian, whereas the January temperatures gradually decreased. Winter temperatures were relatively high (above − 10 °C) during the Early Weichselian.

Keywords

Eemian/WeichselianQuantitative reconstructionTemperaturesPollenPlant macrofossilsLithuania
Type
Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 82 , Issue 1 , July 2014 , pp. 229 - 235
Copyright
University of Washington

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