Western Europe and the Iberian Peninsula from -120 000 years to the Present (computerized reconstruction maps)

• Main Authors: Garcin, Manuel, Bajos, Carmen, del Olmo, Carlos, Godefroy, Pierre
• Other Authors: Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM), ENRESA (ENRESA), ENRESA
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: French
• Published: HAL CCSD 1994
• Subjects: Paléoclimatologie; Paléogéographie; Europe; Pléistocène; Eémien; Simulation; isostasie; Glacial; Paleoclimatology; IsostasyPalaeogeography; [SCCO.COMP]Cognitive science/Computer science; [SDU.STU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences; [SDU.ENVI]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces; environment; [SDE.MCG]Environmental Sciences/Global Changes; Ice cap
• Online Access: https://brgm.hal.science/hal-00562557; https://brgm.hal.science/hal-00562557/document; https://brgm.hal.science/hal-00562557/file/WEurope_120KaBP_ColloqueGeoprospectiveUNESCO1994.pdf

International audience The aim of this study, carried out as part of EEC Project No. F12W-CT91-0075, entitled "Paleoclimatological revision of climate evolution and environment in Western Mediterranean Regions", is to construct paleo-maps of Western Europe and the Iberian Peninsula for the last climatic cycle (-120,000 years to Present) using the Geoprospect software developed at BRGM. After defining the different concepts concerning the climatic variations and their geological corollaries, we determined the principles to be used and the method and limitations of such reconstructions. Paleogeographic and paleotemperature reconstructions are being made for eleven periods considered to be of interest. The first step was to analyse the impact of glacial isostasy on Western Europe through maps locating the deformations, both negative and positive (forebulges), in their geographical settings. Then, taking into account the sea level and isostatic deformation for each period, we reconstructed the topography outside the ice cap for Western Europe and, more particularly, for Spain. Finally, by applying a variation curve of average annual temperatures to these geographic settings, which incidentally were very different from those of today, we obtained mean annual temperature maps from -120,000 years to the present day. These reconstructions should not be regarded as postulates, but as illustrations of probable facts. The maps have provided a better understanding of the phenomena that took place during the Quaternary and which will probably have an effect in the future. They also enable a better integration of the spatial component of the phenomena and their paleogeographic implications.