Late-Glacial palaeotemperatures and palaeoprecipitations in the Aubrac Mountains (French Massif Central) reconstructed from multiproxy analyses (Coleoptera, chironomids and pollen)

New investigations performed with a multi-proxy approach provide robust climate reconstruction for the Late-Glacial in Massif Central, France. The temperature from Coleoptera is obtained Mutual Climatic Range Method, or “MCR” method, based on range of climates corresponding to area occupied today by species identified fossil assemblages. Weighthed Averaging Partial Least Squared (WA-PLS) method used produce mean July estimates Chironomid Climate pollen data using an assemblage approach, Modern Analogue Technique. During (Tmax) reconstructed beetles (Coleoptera) was lower than current Tmax 18.9 °C. Summer conditions were close present at beginning Oldest Dryas (17400–14600 cal. BP), and during most Allerød (13900–12800 BP). Younger (12800–11700 BP) ranged 12 13 °C, much today. increased onset Holocene (11700 reaching values modern period. chironomids shows initial warming around 15000 BP, rise 7 °C 11 A maximum (13.5 °C) reached 13800 BP. second optimum 16 occurred after 10800 Interstadial (LGI) marked decreases (from 10–9 13200–12900 minimum 12600 (Tmax about 10 °C). end seems have been warmer, just before early improvement. Pollen-inferred results showed that Roustières characterized colder drier winter summer seasons today, ones 11700 Holocene. comparable also evidenced Allerød, both Tmin (January temperature). coldest month −13 while summers appeared more moderate (warmest Cold Bølling, temperatures present-day Allerød. cold oscillation 13400 Particularly dry (17000–15800 From 15800 Dryas, precipitation oscillated 750 mm, but periods. These climatic trends three proxies allowed identifying temperate periods (LGI Holocene) events (Younger Dryas) However, difficulties due different sampling resolutions emerged, several discrepancies linked proxy methods are discussed.