Chronological control and centennial-scale climatic subdivisions of the Last Glacial Termination in the western Mediterranean region

The Last Glacial Termination is marked by changing environmental conditions affected abrupt and rapid climate oscillations, such as Heinrich Stadial 1 (HS1), which characterized extremely low sea surface temperatures (SST) significant changes in northern hemisphere terrestrial landscape (e.g., vegetation) human dispersion. Previous studies show that overall cold/dry occurred during HS1, but the lack of high-resolution records precludes whether was stable or instead instability. A paleoclimatic record from Padul wetland (southern Iberian Peninsula), supported a chronology contrasted with other southern Europe Mediterranean region, shows 1) age boundaries HS1 this area at ?18.0 kyr BP (median = 17,970 cal yr BP; mean 18,030 ± 330 BP) ?15.2 15,210 15,200 420 2) non-stationary centennial-scale variability moisture superimposed on cold climatic period. In study, we improve pollen sampling resolution respect to previous same Padul-15-05 sedimentary core suggest novel subdivision 7 sub-phases, including: i) 3 sub-phases (a.1-a.3) an arid early phase (HS1a; ?18.4–17.2 BP), ii) relatively humid middle (HS1b; ?17.2–16.9 iii) (c.1-c.3) late (HS1c; ?16.9–15.7 BP). This regionally SST oscillations Sea, suggesting strong land-sea coupling. cyclostratigraphic analysis data between 20 11 indicates proposed subdivisions ?2000 ?800-yr periodicities could be related solar forcing controlling area.