Environmental Changes in Central Europe 5000–3000 BP

Abstract

In different systems such as lakes, glaciers, rivers, forest communities the climatic fluctuations are reflected with various rate and delay. In Central Europe were distinguished phases of strengthening of westerlies, more humid and with higher frequency of extreme events (5.4-4.9, 4.6-4.2, 3.3-3.0 ka BP). These phases alternate with more stable and drier ones. Those changes in the atmospheric circulation coincide with phases of high volcanic activity. A characteristic feature of the Subboreal in global scale is the increase of climatic stability, more frequent repetition of such cooler and wetter phases alternating with drier ones superimposed on general trend to the cooling. It coincides with the decline of the monsoonal activity and of penetration of the westerlies in the arid zone of SW Asia causing the expansion of the deserts during much drier phases.