Interglacial and Postglacial Climates: The Pollen Record

Abstract

Pollen studies of the four European interglacial intervals indicate a strong similarity in vegetational sequence: a pretemperate phase (I) marks the late glacial, early temperate (II) and late temperate (III) phases mark the interglacial proper, and a posttemperate phase (IV) represents the beginning of the next cold period. A grossly similar record is now known for the last interglacial (Sangamon) of central and southeastern United States. The Holocene sequence in both Europe and America are completely typical of the interglacial sequence, although much more is known of the geographic variations.Estimates for the duration of the interglacials range from 10,000 to more than 30,000 yr, according to counts of the annually laminated sediments (organic varves).The Holocene has already run a course of at least 10,000 yr. If it is like earlier interglacials, it will end soon, giving way to gradually developing cold conditions, which may not lead to glacial maxima for tens of thousands of years.