| Summary: | TheWeichselianglaciationis characterized by significant ocean circulation variations starting from ∼115 thousand years ago (ka) and terminating at ∼11.5 ka. The earlyWeichselian(115–74 ka), especiallymarine isotope stage(MIS) 5a at 85–74 ka, provides a window for understanding the linkage between the European westerlies andMediterranean climate. However, lack of highly-resolvedpaleoclimaterecords with absolute chronologies hampers our knowledge of decadal-to-centennial-scale climate changes and forcings in the circum-Mediterranean realm. Here, we present 230 Th-dated stalagmite-inferred hydroclimate records from Observatoire cave (43°44′ N, 7°25′E), Monaco, for the period between 88.7±0.4 and 80.3±0.1 ka, covering portions of MIS 5b and 5a. Agreement between Observatoire and circum-Mediterraneanstalagmiterecords confirm large-scale warming over the Atlantic-Europe territory during the transition from MIS 5b to 5a. Subdecadally-resolved Observatoire δ 18 O and δ 13 C records express four multi-centennial arid intervals in southern Europe at 84–80 ka in the first-half of MIS 5a, suggesting centennial westerly drifts, a finding supported by a model simulation. Westerly changes and associated arid events can be attributed to slowdowns of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation,North Atlantic Oscillationstates, and solar activity.
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