Environmental changes at the Younger Dryas-Preboreal transition and during the early Holocene: some distinctive aspects in central Europe

Abstract

Data on environmental change at the Younger Dryas-Preboreal transition and during the early Holocene are reviewed with particular reference to evidence from Poland and neighbouring areas of central Europe. Various factors modified the rate of environmental change during the general warming and reforestation. The preservation in central Europe of coniferous forest at the beginning of the Holocene, and the relatively late development of deciduous forest, were connected with the continuation of a continental climate until 9000-8500 BP. This is the main cause for a distinct division of the early Holocene into three phases: 1) 10 300-9500 BP; rapid warming, 2) Preboreal-Boreal continuous transformation 10 000-8500 BP; 3) change to oceanic climate 8700-7700 BP. During the 'Eoholocene' period, the various environmental systems - such as biological, aeolian, fluvial and lacustrine-exhibited diachronous evolution with different rates of change. The distinctive changes in central Europe are contrasted with other regions in the north-south European transect, taking into account such factors as substrate differences, plant migration rates and the pattern of deglaciation.