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Late Quaternary Climatic Variations in Northwest Africa Deduced from East Atlantic Sediment cores

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Liselotte Diester-Haass
Liselotte Diester-Haass*
Affiliation:
23 Kiel, Geologisch-Paläontologisches Institut der Universität, Olshausenstraβe 40/60, West Germany
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Abstract

Characteristic variations in glacial and interglacial periods are shown by the CaCO3 contents, amounts and grain size of terrigenous material (>40 μm), quartz/mica ratios, and desert quartz numbers in East Atlantic sediment cores, collected during Meteor cruise 25 off Sahara and Senegal, 15–27°N. The following results were obtained. During Holocene an arid climate with eolian supply from the continent prevailed throughout the region (fine grained, slight terrigenous input; high CaCO3 values; high desert quartz numbers) except in the Senegal area. Here terrigenous muds indicate river supply and hence humid climate. During upper and lower Würn the climate was humid in the present day Sahara north of 20°N (low desert quartz numbers: input of large quantities of coarse terrigenous material; low CaCO3 values). South of 20°N the climate was arid, the Senegal river input disappeared during upper Würm, desert quartz numbers are as high as in Sahara dune samples, and wind strength was stronger than in the Holocene. Climate during middle Würm resembled Holocene climatic conditions. Climatic conditions during Eem (Riss) were probably similar to those during Holocene (Würm).

Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , June 1976 , pp. 299 - 314
Copyright
University of Washington

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