Last 2000 yr climate evolution in the Iberian Range reconstructed from lake records

Abstract

Selected multi-proxy and accurately dated lacustrine records covering the past 2000 years in the western branch of the Iberian Range (Lakes La Parra, Lagunillo del Tejo, La Cruz, El Tejo, Taravilla and El Tobar) provide a characterization at centennial scale of the main climate phases in continental Iberian Peninsula: the Iberian-Roman Period (500 BC-400 AD), the Dark Ages (500-900 AD), the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA: 900-1300 AD) and the Little Ice Age (LIA: 1300-1850 AD). The Roman Period has a more humid signature, particularly towards the end (300-350 AD). Although at a regional scale, the Dark Ages were colder and more humid, relatively lower lake levels and increase in xerophytic vegetation in some records suggest that a number of arid phases occurred during that period. All records show clear evidences of increased aridity during the MCA in the Iberian Range, characterized by relatively low lake levels, an increase in xerophytes, and low flood frequency. More humid phases occurred during the transition MCA to the LIA (ca. 1200 AD). Subsequent general wetter conditions during the LIA are accompanied by a progressive cooling, higher lake levels, a dominance of pine trees in the forests and an increase in flooding. However climate variability is large during this period, with several drier episodes in most records. Despite some space and time heterogeneity, hydrological changes during the MCA and the LIA are consistent with NAO-like dynamics evolution at centennial scales.