Palaeoenvironmental changes in the Mediterranean region 250-10 kyr BP

Abstract

The Mediterranean region is characterised by two features that make it especially interesting for palaeoclimatic studies over the last 250,000 years. On the one hand it has yielded a number of long terrestrial records, in some cases spanning with continuity more than one interglacial-glacial cycle. These complement the Mediterranean Sea records, providing a useful measure for comparison with global climatic signals. On the other hand, the palaeoclimatic evidence shows considerable complexity and sometimes conflicting features. These are likely to be a reflection of the large degree of heterogeneity that also at present characterises the geography and climate of the region.