Variability of the terrestrial ecosystems and climate along a glacial-interglacial cycle.

During the last 130 millennia, several climatic changes of various amplitudes and lengths have influenced the continental biosphere. The records available for several continents agree to show that the Interglacial climate (Eemian and Holocene) was less variable and contrasted than the Glacial climate. These changes are mainly related to changes of insolation suffered by Earth during its orbital revolution. Vegetation and hydrological changes of the North Atlantic Ocean can have strong feedbacks on the atmosphere, generating more abrupt and shorter climatic changes, also recorded by bio-indicators. The climatic changes observed on most of the continents using pollen data and other fossil remains are reviewed and analysed in function of possible forcing. In conclusion, we show how joined use of past data and vegetation models can enlighten on current global changes. (C) 2004 Academie des sciences. Publie par Elsevier SAS. Tous droits reserves.