Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Variations of the NW African Trade Wind Regime during the Last 140 000 Years: Changes in Pollen Flux Evidenced by Marine Sediment Records

  • Chapter
Paleoclimatology and Paleometeorology: Modern and Past Patterns of Global Atmospheric Transport

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIC,volume 282))

Abstract

Pollen was analyzed in 7 eastern Atlantic cores located between 37° and 9°N. The cores lie along a transect in the main trajectory of the northeast trade winds. The northern sector of the transect is close to source areas of pollen; whereas, the southern sector is distant (<2000 km) from the pollen source areas. Winds dominate in the transport of pollen from the northernmost part of the trade wind belt to the coring sites. Therefore, the pollen in the cores is a potential monitor of eolian transport. 18O and 14C based time control of the sediment sections made it possible to display the pollen data as influx records. After having estimated latitudinal shifts of the different pollen source areas, spatial and temporal variations in the pollen flux have been used to evaluate changes in the trade wind vigor.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Agwu, C.O.C. & Beug, H.-J., 1982. Palynological studies of marine sediments off the West African coast. ″Meteor″ Forsch.- Ergeb., C 36: 1–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben Tiba, B. & Reille, M., 1982. Recherches pollenanalytiques dans les montagnes de Kroumirie (Tunisie septentrionale): premiers résultats. Ecologia Mediterranea, 8 (4): 75–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernard, J. & Reille, M., 1987. Nouvelles analyses polliniques dans l’Atlas de Marrakech, Maroc. Pollen et Spores, 29 (2–3): 225–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bishop, J.K.B., Edmond, J.M., Ketten, D.R., Bacon, M.P. & Silken, W.B., 1977. The chemistry, biology and vertical flux of particulate matter from the upper 400 meters of the equatorial Atlantic Ocean. Deep-Sea Research, 24: 511–548.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop, J.K.B., Ketten, D.R. & Edmond, J.M., 1978. The chemistry, biology and vertical flux of particulate matter from the upper 400 meters of the Cape basin in the southeast Atlantic Ocean. Deep-Sea Research, 25: 1121–1161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Florschütz, F., Menéndez Amor, J. & Wijmstra, T.A., 1971. Palynology of a thick Quaternary succession in southern Spain. Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecol., 10: 233–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frenzel, B., 1968. Grundzüge der Pleistozänen Vegetationsgeschichte Nord-Eurasiens. Erdwissenschaftliche Forschung, Band I: 326 pp. Steiner Verlag, Wiesbaden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths, J.F. & Soliman, K.H., 1972. The northern desert (Sahara). In: Griffiths, J.F. (ed.), Climates of Africa. World survey of climatology, Vol. 10: pp. 75–131. Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Honjo, S., 1976. Coccoliths: production, transportation and sedimentation. Mar. Micropaleont., 1: 65–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Honjo, S., 1980. Material fluxes and modes of sedimentation in the mesopelagic and bathypelagic zones. Journal of Marine Research, 38: 53–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Honjo, S., 1983. Transport mechanism of pelagic particles in time and space. Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, 65: 225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hooghiemstra, H., 1988a. Changes of major wind belts and vegetation zones in NW Africa 20,000–5000 yr B.P. as deduced from a marine pollen record near Cap Blanc. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 55: 101–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hooghiemstra, H., 1988b. Palynological records from northwest Atlantic marine sediments: a general outline of the interpretation of the pollen signal. Phil, Trans. R. Soc. Lond., B 318: 431–449.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hooghiemstra, H. & Agwu, C.O.C., 1986. Distribution of palynomorphs in marine sediments: a record for seasonal wind patterns over NW Africa and adjacent Atlantic. Geol. Rdsch., 75 (1): 81–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hooghiemstra, H., Agwu, C.O.C. & Beug, H.-J., 1986. Pollen and spore distribution in recent marine sediments: a record of NW-African seasonal wind patterns and vegetation belts. “Meteor” Forsch. Ergeb., C 40: 87–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hooghiemstra, H., Bechler, A. & Beug, H.-J., 1987. Isopollen maps for 18,000 years B.P. of the Atlantic offshore of northwest Africa: evidence for paleowind circulation. Paleoceanography, 2 (6): 561–582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hooghiemstra, H. & Agwu, C.O.C., 1988. Changes in the vegetation and trade winds in equartorial northwest Africa 140,000–70,000 yr B.P. as deduced from two marine pollen records. Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecol., 66: 173–213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hooghiemstra, H. Stalling, H. & Agwu, C.O.C. (submitted). Vegetational and climatic changes at the northern fringe of the Sahara 140,000–5000 years B.P.: evidence from 4 marine pollen records located between Portugal and the Canary Islands. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol.

    Google Scholar 

  • Imbrie, J., Hays, J.D., Martinson, D.G., McIntyre, A., Mix, A.C., Morley, J.J., Pisias, N.G., Prell, W.L. & Shackelton, N.J., 1984. The orbital theory of Pleistocene climate: support from a revised chronology of the marine 00 record. In: Berger, A.L. et al. (eds.), Milankovitch and Climate, Part I, pp. 269–305. Reidel, Dordrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janecek, T.R. & Rea, D.K., 1985. Quaternary fluctuations in the northern hemisphere trade winds and westerlies. Quat. Res., 24: 150–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janssen, C.R. & Woldringh, R.E., 1981. A preliminary radiocarbon dated pollen sequence from the Serra da Estrela, Portugal. Finisterra, 16 (32): 299–309.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koopmann, B., 1981. Sedimentation von Saharastaub im subtropischen Nordatlantik während der letzten 25.000 Jahre. “Meteor” Forsch. Ergeb., C 35: 23–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamb, H.F., Eicher, U. & Switsur, V.R., in press. An 18,000-year record of vegetational, lake-level and climatic change from the Middle Atlas, Morocco. Journal of Biogeography.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leroux, M., 1983. The climate of tropical Africa, Ed. Champion, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melia, M.B., 1984. The distribution and relationship between palynomorphs in aerosols and deep-sea sediments off the coast of northwest Africa. Mar. Geol., 58: 345–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicholson, S.E. & Flohn, H., 1980. African environmental and climatic changes and the general atmospheric circulation in Late Pleistocene and Holocene. Climatic Change, 2: 313–348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parkin, D.W., 1974. Trade-winds during glacial cycles. Proc. R. Soc. Lond., A 337: 73–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parkin, D.W. & Shackleton, N.J., 1973. Trade wind and temperature correlations down a deep-sea core off the Saharan coast. Nature, 245: 455–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parkin, D.W. & Padgham, R.C., 1975. Further studies on trade winds during the glacial cycles. Proc. R. Soc. Lond., A 346: 245–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petit-Maire, N. & Riser, J., 1981. Holocene lake deposits and palaeoenvironments in Central Sahara, northeastern Mali. Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecol., 35: 45–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pokras, E.M. & Mix, A.C., 1985. Eolian evidence for spatial variability of Late Quaternary climates in tropical Africa. Quat. Res., 24: 137–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pons, A. & Reille, M., 1984. Orginalité de l’histoire climatique des pourtours de la Méditerranée occidentale durant le Pléistocène supérieur par rapport à celle de l’Europe occidentale. Bull. Soc. bot. Fr., 131, Actual. bot., 1984 (2–4): 69–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pons, A. & Reille, M., 1986. Nouvelles recherches pollenanalytiques a Padul (Granada): la fin du dernier glaciaire et l’Holocene. In: Lδpez-Vera, F. (ed.), Pons, A. & Reille, M., pp. 405–420. Universidad Autbnoma de Madrid.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prospero, J.M. & Carlson, T.N., 1972. Vertical and areal distribution of Sahran dust over the western equartorial North Atlanitc Ocean. Journal of Geophysic. Research, 77 (27): 5255–5265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reille, M., 1976. Analyse pollinique de sédiments postglaciaires dans le Moyen Atlas et le Haut Atlas marocains: premiers résultats. Ecologia Mediterranea, 2: 153–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reille, M., 1977. Contribution pollenanalytique a l’histoire Holocène de la végétation des montagnes du Rif (Maroc septentrional). Recherches francaises sur le Quaternaire INQUA, Suppl. Bull. AFEQ, 1977–1 (50): 53–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rognon, R., 1976. Essai d’interprétation des variations climatiques au Sahara depuis 40.000 ans. Rev. Géogr. phys. Géol. dyn., 2, 18 (2–3): 251–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rognon, P., 1987. Late Quaternary climatic reconstruction for the Maghreb (North Africa). Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecol., 58: 11–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarnthein, M., 1978. Sand deserts during glacial maximum and climatic optimum. Nature, 272: 43–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarnthein, M., Tetzlaff, G., Koopmann, B., Wolter, K. & Pflaumann, U., 1981a. Glacial and interglacial wind regimes over the eastern subtropical Atlantic and North-West Africa. Nature, 293: 193–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarnthein, M., Erlenkeuser, H. & Zahn, R., 1981b. Termination I: the response of continental climate in the subtropics as recorded in deep-sea sediments. Actes Colloque Intern. CNRS, Bordeaux. Bull. Inst. Géol. Bassin d’Aquitaine, Bordeaux, 1982 (31): 393–407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarnthein, M., Thiede, J., Pflaumann, U., Erlenkeuser, H., Fütterer, D., Koopmann, B., Lange, H. & Seibold, E., 1982. Atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns off northwest Africa during the past 25 million years. In: Von Rad, U. et al. (eds.), Geology of the northwest African continental margin. pp. 545–604. Springer Verlag, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, F.H., 1967. Palynology and meteorology. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 3: 27–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schrader, H.J., 1971. Fecal pellets: role in sedimentation of pelagic diatoms. Science, 174: 55–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tauber, H., 1965. Differential pollen dispersion and the interpretation of pollen diagrams. Danmarks Geologiske Undersdgelse, II, 89: 69 pp. Reitzels Forlag, Kdbenhavn.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tezlaff, G. & Wolter, K., 1980. Meteorological patterns and the transport of mineral dust from the north Arican continent. Palaeoecology of Africa, 12: 31–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tetzlaff, G. & Peters, M., 1986a. Deep-sea sediments in the eastern equatorial Atlantic off the African coast and meteorological flow patterns over the Sahel. Geol. Rdsch., 75: 71–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tetzlaff, G. & Peters, M., 1986b. The atmospheric transport potential for water vapour and dust in the Sahel region. Geo Journal, 12: 387–398.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, F., 1983. The vegetation of Africa. A descriptive memoir to accompany the UNESCO/AEFTAT/UNSO vegetation map of Africa: 356 pp., 3 maps. UNESCO, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Henry Hooghiemstra

    Present address: Hugo de Vries-Laboratory, Dept. of Palynology and Paleo/Actuo-Ecology, University of Amsterdam, Kruislaan 318, 1098 SM, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Palynology and Quaternary Sciences, University of Göttingen, Wilhelm-Weber-Str. 2, D-3400, Göttingen, Germany

    Henry Hooghiemstra

Authors
  1. Henry Hooghiemstra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI, USA

    Margaret Leinen

  2. Geologisches Paleontologisches Institut, Christian Albrechts Universität, Kiel, Germany

    Michael Sarnthein

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1989 Kluwer Academic Publishers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hooghiemstra, H. (1989). Variations of the NW African Trade Wind Regime during the Last 140 000 Years: Changes in Pollen Flux Evidenced by Marine Sediment Records. In: Leinen, M., Sarnthein, M. (eds) Paleoclimatology and Paleometeorology: Modern and Past Patterns of Global Atmospheric Transport. NATO ASI Series, vol 282. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0995-3_30

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0995-3_30

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6937-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0995-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation