Climate evolution during the Holocene in the high basin of the Guadiana river (southern Iberian Meseta)

Abstract

Is has been carried out a palynological study of a core obtained from a deposit located in the high basin of Guadiana river (Southern Iberian Meseta). The dynamics of the vegetation from the pollen diagram and its correlation with other sequences from the mediterranean region has allowed to distinguish the climatic phases that have occurred during the last 10,400 years BP. The evolutionary trend has been as follows: a continental climate cold and arid in the lower part of the pollen sequence; in the middle part, between 8,500 and 5,800 years BP, a warm and humid climate and finally, from 4,500 years BP, the beginning of a continental mediterranean climate. Also, three arid phases have been observed: between 9,100-8,500 years BP, between 5,800-4,500 years BPand between 2,500-2,000 years BP.