Malaco temperature reconstructions and numerical simulation of environmental conditions in the southeastern Carpathian Basin during the Last Glacial Maximum

Patrick Ludwig,Milica G Radaković,Milivoj B Gavrilov,Slobodan B Marković

doi:10.1002/jqs.3318

Patrick Ludwig, Milica G Radaković + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.3318

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Abstract

ABSTRACTWe investigate the glacial climate conditions in the southeastern Carpathian Basin (Vojvodina, Serbia) based on the reconstruction of malacological palaeotemperatures and results from a high‐resolution regional climate simulation. Land snail assemblages from eight loess profiles are used to reconstruct July temperatures during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The malacological reconstructed temperatures are in good agreement with the simulated LGM July temperatures by the Weather Research and Forecast model. Both methods indicate increasing temperatures from the northwestern towards the southeastern parts of the study area. LGM aridity indices calculated based on the regional climate model data suggest more arid conditions in the southeastern parts compared with more humid conditions in the northwestern parts. However, for present‐day conditions, the moisture gradient is reversed, exhibiting more humid (arid) conditions in the southeast (northwest). An explanation for the reversed LGM aridity pattern is provided by an analysis of the prevailing wind directions over the South Banat district (Serbia). The prevailing moist northwesterly winds during summer are not able to compensate for the annual lack of moisture induced by the dry winds from the southeast that are more frequent during the LGM for the other seasons.

Highlights

The rates of temperature and precipitation changes are the most important indicators in determining the effects of past, recent and future climate change
Parameters defined by a mathematical quotient/ratio between precipitation and temperature values are known as the aridity indices and are used to determine environmental conditions regarding water availability or deficit
A study by Hrnjak et al (2014) describes the aridity obtained by the De Martonne (DM) Aridity Index (De Martonne, 1925) and the Pinna Combinative Index (Zambakas, 1992) for the period 1949–2006

Summary

Introduction

The rates of temperature and precipitation changes are the most important indicators in determining the effects of past, recent and future climate change. Parameters defined by a mathematical quotient/ratio between precipitation and temperature values are known as the aridity indices and are used to determine environmental conditions regarding water availability or deficit. An overview of the characteristics and classification of aridity indices can be found in Gavrilov et al (2019a,b), for example. Gavrilov et al (2019a) used the Forestry Aridity Index (FAI) for the analysis of the interaction of climate and vegetative processes, especially in forestry for the period from 1949 to 2015. In the third case (Gavrilov et al, 2019b), aridity was investigated again using the DM Aridity Index and the FAI, where the aridity results were compared with the results of tree ring records (Tree Ring Width Index) and the Palmer Drought

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