CLIMATE

Contemporary climate

The contemporary climate regime of Europe is spatially variable, because of its position between the Arctic and Mediterranean zones on the latitudinal extent, and the Euro-Asian continental mass and Atlantic coast zones on the longitudinal extent. Additional spatial climatic variability results from the topography of Europe, which is characterized by a combination of high mountain chains, low lying countries and a circuitous shoreline. The penetration of the sea into the continent causes the climate to become milder, in terms of temperature. Consequently, the climatic conditions in each region differ according to its position in relation to the more extreme conditions along the borders. Another influence is the warm Gulf Stream, which flows along the western shores of Europe. From the global point of view, the European continent lies within the westerlies wind system. Within this system, barometric pressures influence the storm regime. High-pressure, anticyclone system characterizes the eastern continental region, while the low-pressure cyclone system characterizes the west over the Atlantic.

The Pleistocene–Holocene transition period

The last glacial maximum occurred between 22 ka and 16 ka BP. A massive deglaciation started shortly thereafter, characterized by strong fluctuations and occurring between 15 ka and 8 ka BP. A warm period seems to have taken place from 13.5 ka to 11 ka BP. This is referred to as the “Windermere interstadial” in Britain and Ireland and the “Bölling interstadial” in Scandinavia.