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 reve als a pattern of high-frequency variations similar to that in ice core s as shown by oxygen isotopes or dust content. Analyses of 14 traverti ne samples yield coherent U-series ages in correct stratigraphic order , ranging from 40,000 to 70,000 yr. According to changes in the compos ition 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 o f 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 event s alternate. The fourth phase, from 49,500 to 46,200 yr, records a col d, dry climate. The fifth phase, ranging from 46,200 to 40,800 yr, rec ords a milder phase that is similar in appearance to the beginning of the Holocene. (C) 1994 University of Washington.