Initiation of the European deglaciation as recorded in the northwestern Bay of Biscay slope environments (Meriadzek Terrace and Trevelyan Escarpment): a multi-proxy approach

Three cores retrieved on the northwestern slope of the Bay of Biscay are de scribed and discussed in the light of the European last deglaciation histor y. This integrated sedimentological and micropalaeontological study provide s a detailed evolution scheme for the deep and sea-surface conditions of th e Bay during the final deglacial step, with a direct link with the continen tal palaeoenvironments. As early as 15 ka C-14-BP, a European precursor mel ting event is recorded as a purge of the Channel and Irish Sea palaeoriver systems. 'Pleni-Heinrich event conditions' occurred in the Bay of Biscay be tween 14.4 and 13 ka C-14-BP with a typical Canadian signature only recorde d at 13 ka C-14-BP, namely 1 ka later than the first evidence of melting of the British Ice-sheet. Our data demonstrate that, following Heinrich event 2, the Last Glacial Maximum was characterised by a gradual warming accompa nied by, at least, two pulses of the North Atlantic Drift. These North Atla ntic Drift/heat northward penetrations are supposed to have primarily force d the Heinrich event 1 collapse. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.