scholarly journals First dated human occupation of Italy at ~0.85Ma during the late Early Pleistocene climate transition

2011 ◽  
Vol 307 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 241-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Muttoni ◽  
Giancarlo Scardia ◽  
Dennis V. Kent ◽  
Enrico Morsiani ◽  
Fabrizio Tremolada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Pleistocene ◽  
Human Occupation ◽  
Pleistocene Climate ◽  
Climate Transition

scholarly journals Mediterranean Outflow Water variability during the Early Pleistocene climate transition

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Kaboth ◽  
Patrick Grunert ◽  
Lucas J. Lourens
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Early Pleistocene ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Intermediate Water ◽  
Mediterranean Outflow Water ◽  
The North ◽  
Pleistocene Climate ◽  
Mediterranean Outflow ◽  
The North Atlantic ◽  
Climate Transition

Abstract. Gaining insights into the evolution of Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) during the Early Pleistocene climate transition has been so far hampered by the lack of available paleoclimatic archives. Here we present the first benthic foraminifera stable oxygen and carbon isotope records and grain-size data from IODP Expedition 339 Site U1389 presently located within the upper core of the MOW in the Gulf of Cadiz for the time interval between 2.6 and 1.8 Ma. A comparison with an intermediate water mass record from the Mediterranean Sea strongly suggest an active MOW supplying Site U1389 on glacial-interglacial timescales during the Early Pleistocene. We also find indication that the increasing presence of MOW in the Gulf of Cadiz during the investigated time interval aligns with the progressive northward protrusion of Mediterranean sourced intermediate water masses into the North Atlantic, possibly modulating the intensification of the North Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation at the same time. Additionally, our results suggest that MOW flow strength was already governed by precession and semi-precession cyclicity during the Early Pleistocene against the background of glacial-interglacial variability dominated by the obliquity cycle of Earth`s inclination axis.

scholarly journals Technological innovations at the onset of the Mid-Pleistocene Climate Transition in high-latitude East Asia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shi-Xia Yang ◽  
Fa-Gang Wang ◽  
Fei Xie ◽  
Jian-Ping Yue ◽  
Cheng-Long Deng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Latitude ◽  
Climatic Variability ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Early Pleistocene ◽  
Stone Tool ◽  
Middle Pleistocene ◽  
Technological Innovations ◽  
Nihewan Basin ◽  
Pleistocene Climate ◽  
Climate Transition

Abstract The interplay between Pleistocene climatic variability and hominin adaptations to diverse terrestrial ecosystems is a key topic in human evolutionary studies. Early and Middle Pleistocene environmental change and its relation to hominin behavioural responses has been a subject of great interest in Africa and Europe, though little information is available for other key regions of the Old World, particularly from Eastern Asia. Here we examine key Early Pleistocene sites of the Nihewan Basin, in high-latitude northern China, dating between ∼1.4 and 1.0 million years ago (Ma). We compare stone-tool assemblages from three Early Pleistocene sites in the Nihewan Basin, including detailed assessment of stone-tool refitting sequences at the ∼1.1-Ma-old site of Cenjiawan. Increased toolmaking skills and technological innovations are evident in the Nihewan Basin at the onset of the Mid-Pleistocene Climate Transition (MPT). Examination of the lithic technology of the Nihewan sites, together with an assessment of other key Palaeolithic sites of China, indicates that toolkits show increasing diversity at the outset of the MPT and in its aftermath. The overall evidence indicates the adaptive flexibility of early hominins to ecosystem changes since the MPT, though regional abandonments are also apparent in high latitudes, likely owing to cold and oscillating environmental conditions. The view presented here sharply contrasts with traditional arguments that stone-tool technologies of China are homogeneous and continuous over the course of the Early Pleistocene.

Emergence of critical climate states during the Pleistocene

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Golledge
Keyword(s):  
Dynamical Systems ◽  
Late Pleistocene ◽  
Dominant Frequency ◽  
Climate System ◽  
Ice Age ◽  
Early Pleistocene ◽  
Glacial Cycles ◽  
Pleistocene Climate ◽  
System Nodes ◽  
Systems Framework

<p>During the Pleistocene (approximately 2.6 Ma to present) glacial to interglacial climate variability evolved from dominantly 40 kyr cyclicity (Early Pleistocene) to 100 kyr cyclicity (Late Pleistocene to present). Three aspects of this period remain poorly understood: Why did the dominant frequency of climate oscillation change, given that no major changes in orbital forcing occurred? Why are the longer glacial cycles of the Late Pleistocene characterised by a more asymmetric form with abrupt terminations? And how can the Late Pleistocene climate be controlled by 100 kyr cyclicity when astronomical forcings of this frequency are so much weaker than those operating on shorter periods? Here we show that the decreasing frequency and increasing asymmetry that characterise Late Pleistocene ice age cycles both emerge naturally in dynamical systems in response to increasing system complexity, with collapse events (terminations) occuring only once a critical state has been reached. Using insights from network theory we propose that evolution to a state of criticality involves progressive coupling between climate system 'nodes', which ultimately allows any component of the climate system to trigger a globally synchronous termination. We propose that the climate state is synchronised at the 100 kyr frequency, rather than at shorter periods, because eccentricity-driven insolation variability controls mean temperature change globally, whereas shorter-period astronomical forcings only affect the spatial pattern of thermal forcing and thus do not favour global synchronisation. This dynamical systems framework extends and complements existing theories by accomodating the differing mechanistic interpretations of previous studies without conflict.</p>

Early Pleistocene climate changes in the central Mediterranean region as inferred from integrated pollen and planktonic foraminiferal stable isotope analyses

2007 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 264-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sébastien Joannin ◽  
Frédéric Quillévéré ◽  
Jean-Pierre Suc ◽  
Christophe Lécuyer ◽  
François Martineau
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Early Pleistocene ◽  
Subtropical Climate ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Globigerina Bulloides ◽  
Riparian Trees ◽  
Pleistocene Climate ◽  
Anoxic Events

AbstractVegetation inherited from a Pliocene subtropical climate evolved through obliquity oscillations and global cooling leading to modern conditions. An integrated, highly time-resolved record of pollen and stable isotopes (δ18O and δ13C of Globigerina bulloides) was obtained to understand vegetation responses to Early Pleistocene climate changes. Continental and marine responses are compared in the Central Mediterranean region with a particular consideration of environmental changes during anoxic events.Pollen data illustrate vegetation dynamics as follows: [1] development of mesothermic elements (warm and humid conditions); [2] expansion of mid- and high-altitude elements (cooler but still humid conditions); and [3] strengthening of steppe and herb elements (cooler and dry conditions). These successions correlate with precession. δ18O variations recorded by Globigerina bulloides define two cycles (MIS 43-40) related to obliquity. At northern low- to mid-latitudes, the pollen signal records temperature and wetness changes related to precession even during global climate changes induced by obliquity. This may result in unexpected increasing wetness during glacial periods, which has to be considered specific to the Central and Eastern Mediterranean region. Lastly, an analysis of anoxic events reveals that enhanced runoff is indicated by increasing frequency of the riparian trees Liquidambar and Zelkova.

scholarly journals A multidisciplinary study of ecosystem evolution through early Pleistocene climate change from the marine Arda River section, Italy

2018 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 533-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaia Crippa ◽  
Andrea Baucon ◽  
Fabrizio Felletti ◽  
Gianluca Raineri ◽  
Daniele Scarponi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Early Pleistocene ◽  
Tectonic Activity ◽  
Delta Front ◽  
Multidisciplinary Study ◽  
Sedimentary Evolution ◽  
Pleistocene Climate ◽  
Pleistocene Climate Change ◽  
Uplift And Erosion

AbstractThe Arda River marine succession (Italy) is an excellent site to apply an integrated approach to paleoenvironmental reconstructions, combining the results of sedimentology, body fossil paleontology, and ichnology to unravel the sedimentary evolution of a complex marine setting in the frame of early Pleistocene climate change and tectonic activity. The succession represents a subaqueous extension of a fluvial system, originated during phases of advance of fan deltas affected by high-density flows triggered by river floods, and overlain by continental conglomerates, indicating a relative sea level fall and the establishment of a continental environment. An overall regressive trend is observed through the section, from prodelta to delta front and intertidal settings. The hydrodynamic energy and the sedimentation rate are not constant through the section, but they are influenced by hyperpycnal flows, whose sediments were mainly supplied by an increase in Apennine uplift and erosion, especially after 1.80 Ma. The Arda section documents the same evolutionary history of coeval successions in the Paleo-Adriatic region, as well as the climatic changes of the early Pleistocene. The different approaches used complement quite well one another, giving strength and robustness to the obtained results.

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