Major events at the transition from early to middle Pleistocene

Abstract

The Pleistocene climatic fluctuations were accompanied by world-wide eustatic oscillations of sea level and by extensive changes in marine and continental faunas and in vegetation. The most drastic change in average ocean temperature and in the pattern of temperature fluctuations took place at O18 isotope stage 22 and was preceded by dramatic revolutions in continental faunas and floras, which have been recognized in Eurasia and South America; similar changes may presumably be detected in other continents if time scales with adequate resolution will be made available. It is suggested that the Cassian sea level drop of the Mediterranean, equivalent to the first Illinoian cycle in North America, may correspond to stage 22 and at the same time may provide a reliable criterion for a limit between early and middle Pleistocene. We recognize that the matter requires closer investigation and suggest to select a suitable section for the definition of the limit.