HOLOCENE CLIMATIC CHANGES IN THE WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN - INSTALLATIONOF THE MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE

In the western Mediterranean during the Holocene, summer drought occur red progressively from south to north. In south eastern Spain, between latitudes 36 and 39 degrees N, it prevailed from about 10000 BP and a first arid episode is recorded around 7,000 yr BP. A Mediterranean cl imate reached a latitude 39-40 degrees N near 7000 BP and near 41 degr ees N before 5000 BP. The climatic change that began near 4500-4200 BP , resulted in changes in the seasonal pattern of precipitation and the installation of summer drought between about 3300 and 1000 BP in the zone 40 degrees-44 degrees N.