Weichselian late-glacial palaeoecology and palaeoenvironment at Lago Grande di Monticchio (Basilicata, S Italy)

Abstract

Late-glacial pollen diagrams from mid-lake and fen cores taken at Lago Grande di Monticchio, together with their independently-derived chronologies, are presented and their pollen stratigraphy outlined. The palaeoclimate inferences that emerge from these records, especially those additional insights gained from a comparison of the two, are described. The implications with respect to atmospheric circulation patterns are considered and compared to the results of published palaeoclimate simulations. It is concluded that some aspects of palaeoclimate history in the Mediterranean region are not captured by currently available palaeoclimate simulations because they have insufficient spatial resolution.