High resolution palynological record off the Iberian margin: direct land-sea correlation for the Last Interglacial complex

We present high resolution pollen, dinocyst and isotopic data for the Last Interglacial complex from marine core MD952042 (southwestern margin of the Iberian Peninsula; 37 degrees 48'N; 10 degrees 10'W; 3148 m). Direct land-s ea correlation from this core indicates that during this period, North Atla ntic sea surface temperatures were in phase with Iberian climate. Our palyn ological analysis suggests a Younger Dryas-like event at the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS)-6/5 transition. The analysis also indicates that the Eemian sp ans from the lightest isotopic values of MIS-Se: (ca. 126 ky BP) to the hea vier isotopic values towards the MIS-5e/5d transition. Therefore, the Eemia n is not entirely equivalent to MIS-Se. Pollen analysis identifies four cli matic phases of low amplitude during the Eemian. A Mediterranean climate in southwestern Europe is gradually replaced by oceanic conditions. The middl e of the Eemian is characterized by an increase in precipitation on the lan d and ocean, associated with a slight cooling. This seems to be the result of a displacement of the Polar Front as far south as southern Europe during this period. After the Eemian, three relatively short climatic phases on l and (Melisey I, St. Germain Ia and Montaigu cold event) occurred contempora neously with three shifts of sea surface temperatures. The Montaigu event, first identified in terrestrial pollen sequences, is, therefore, also recor ded in core MD952042 on the basis of pollen, dinocyst and planktonic isotop ic data. Our results also show that the warm periods of MIS-5 are not chara cterized by similar climatic conditions on land. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.