Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

African environmental and climatic changes and the general atmospheric circulation in late pleistocene and holocene

  • Published:
Climatic Change Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The paper describes the environmental and climatic changes which took place in Africa from the late Pleistocene through the Holocene and the general atmospheric circulation patterns which likely correspond to them. Three major periods are considered: (1) a period of aridity and dune building c. 20,000-12,000 B.P. in which the Sahara advanced considerably southward; (2) a moist, lacustrine period c. 10,000-8,000 B.P.; and (3) a second moist, lacustrine period toward c. 6,500-4,500 B.P. in which the entire Sahara desert contracted considerably. The prevailing atmospheric circulation patterns are theorized on the basis of corresponding changes of surface boundary conditions-primarily changing thermal character—and known dynamic behavior of the atmosphere.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Assemien, P., Zilleron, J. C, Martin, L., and Tastet, J. P.: 1970, ‘Le Quartenaire de la zone littorale de Côte-d'Ivoire’, Bull. Ass. Sénég. Et. Quat. Ouest afr., Dakar, No. 25, 65–78.

  • Aumassip, G., Dagorne, A., Estorges, P., Lefèvre, P., Mahrour, M., Marmier, F., Nesson, C., Rouvillois M., and Trecolle, G.: 1972, ‘Aperçu sur l'évolution du paysage quaternaire et le peuplement de la région de Ouargla’, Libyca XX, 205–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballais, J.L.: 1974, ‘L'évolution géomorphologique holocène dans la région de Cheria (Nementchas)’, Libyca (to be published).

  • Balout, L.: 1955, Préhistoire de l'Afrique du Nord, Paris.

  • Barry, R. G. et al.: 1977, ‘Environmental change and cultural change in the Eastern Canadian Arctic during the last 5000 years’, Arctic and Alpine Research 9, 193–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Büdel, J.: 1949, ‘Die räumliche und zeitliche Gliederung des Eiszeitklimas’, Naturwissenschaften 36, 105–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burke, K., Durotoye, A. B., and Whiteman, A. J.: 1971, ‘A dry phase south of the Sahara 20,000 years ago’, W. Afr. J. Archaeol. 1, 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burckle, L. H., and Clarke, D. : 1977, ‘Sea surface temperatures and sea-ice distribution around the Antarctic during the last glacial maximum’, Abstracts, X INQUA Congress, Birmingham.

  • Butzer, K. W.: 1957, ‘Mediterranean pluvials and the general circulation of the Pleistocene’, Geografiska Annaler, Bd. XXXIX, 48–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butzer, K. W.: 1957, ‘The recent climatic fluctuation in lower latitudes and the general circulation of the Pleistocene’, Geografiska Annaler, Bd. XXXIX, 105–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butzer, K. W.: 1971a, Environment and Archaeology: An Ecological Approach to Prehistory, Aldine-Atherton, Chicago, 703 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butzer, K. W.: 1971b, ‘Recent History of an Ethiopian Delta’, Univ. Chicago Geogr. Dep. Res. Pap. 136, 184 pp.

  • Butzer, K. W., and Hansen, C. L.: 1968, Desert and River in Nubia: Geomorphology and Prehistoric Environments at the Aswan Reservoir, Univ. of Wisconsin Press, Madison, 562 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butzer, K. W., Isaac, G. L., Richardson, J. L., and Washbourn-Kamau, C.: 1972, ‘Radiocarbon dating of East African lake levels’, Science 1975, 1069–1076.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chamard, P.: 1973, Les Paléoclimats du Sud-Ouest Saharien au Quaternaire récent. Coll. de Nouakchott sur les problèmes de la désertification, 21 pp.

  • Chamard, P., and Couvert, M.: 1975, ‘Contribution à l'étude géomorphologique du Sahel. Les formes dunaires du Niger occidentale et de la Haute Volta septentrionale’, Bull. ASEQUA, 44–45, 55–65.

  • Charney, J. G.: 1975, ‘Dynamics of deserts and drought in the Sahel’, Quart. J. R. Met. Soc. 101, 193–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • CLIMAP Project Members: 1976, ‘The surface of the Ice-Age Earth’, Science 191, 1131–1137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, J. D., Williams, M. A. J., and Smith, A. B.: 1973, ‘The geomorphology and archaeology of Adrar Bous, Central Sahara: a preliminary report’, Quaternaria 12, 245–297.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conrad, G.: 1969, L'évolution continentale post-hercynienne du Sahara algérien (Saoura, Erg Chec-Tanezrouft, Ahnet-Mouydir), Publ. CNRS, Paris, 527 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coque, R.: 1962, La Tunisie présaharienne, étude géomorphologique, Paris, 476 pp.

  • Couvert, M.: 1972, ‘Variations paléoclimatiques en Algérie’, Libyca 20, 45–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Degens, E. T., and Hecky, P. R. E.: 1974, ‘Paleoclimatic reconstruction of Late Pleistocene and Holocene based on biogenic sediments from the Black Sea and a tropical African lake’, Coll. CNRS, No. 219, Gif-sur-Yvette, 13–24.

  • Delibrias, G., Ortlieb, L., Petit-Maire, N.: 1976, ‘New C14 Data for the Atlantic Sahara (Holocene): Tentative Interpretations’, Journal of Human Evolution 5, 535–546.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Ploey, J.: 1963, ‘Quelques indices sur l'évolution morphologique et paléoclimatique des environs du Stanley-Pool (Congo)’, Stud. Univ. Lovanium Fac. Sci. 17, 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Ploey, J.: 1965, ‘Position géomorphologique, génèse et chronologie due certains dépôts superficiels au Congo occidental’, Quaternaria 9, 131–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubief, J.: 1953, Essai sur l'hydrologie superficielle au Sahara, Algiers.

  • Dubief, J. and Queney, P.: 1935, ‘Les grands traits du climate du Sahara Algérien’, La Météorologie, 81–91.

  • Ellsaesser, H. W., MacCracken, M. C., Potter, G. L., and Luther, F. M.: 1976. ‘An additional model test of positive feedback from high desert albedo’, Quart. J. R. Met. Soc. 102, 655–666.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elouard, P.: 1973, ‘Oscillations climatiques de l'Holocéne à nos jours en Mauritanie atlantique et dans la vallée du Sénégal’, Coll. Nouakchott sur les problèmes de la désertification, 21 pp.

  • Estorges, P., Aumassip, G., and Dagorne, A.: 1969, ‘El Haouita, un exemple de remblaiement finiwürmien’, Libyca, Anthrop., Préhist. et Ethnog., Alger, vol. XVII, p. 53–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faure, H., Manguin, E., and Nydal, R.: 1963, ‘Formations lacustres du Quaternaire supérieur du Niger oriental Diatomistes et datations absolues’, Bull. B.R.G.M., No. 3, 41–63.

  • Flohn, H.: 1952, ‘Allgemeine atmosphärische Zirkulation and Paläoklimatologie’, Geol. Rdsch. 40, 153–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flohn, H.: 1964, ‘Grundfragen der Paläoklimatologie im Lichte einer theoretischen Klimatologie’, Geol. Rdsch. 54, 504–515.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flohn, H.: 1965, ‘Studies on the Meteorology of Tropical Africa’, Bonner Meteorol. Abh. 5, 57 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flohn, H.: 1967, ‘Bemerkungen zur Asymmetrie der atmosphärischen Zirkulation’, Ann. Meteor. N.F. 3, 76–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flohn, H.: 1975, ‘Tropische Zirkulationsformen im Lichte der Satellitenaufnahmen’, Bonner Meteorol. Abh. 21, 82p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flohn, H.: 1977, ‘Climatic fluctuations in the arid belt of the “Old World” since 10,000 B.P.; possible causes and future implications’, unpublished manuscript.

  • Flohn, H.: 1978, ‘Comparison of Antarctic and Arctic climate and its relevance to climatic evolution’. In E. M. van Zinderen Bakker (ed.), Antarctic Glacial History and World Palaeoenvironments, A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam, 190 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flohn, H.: 1979, ‘Possible climatic consequences of a man-made global warming’, Res. Mem. Intern. Inst. Appl. Systems Analysis, Laxemburg, in press.

  • Flohn, H., and Nicholson, S. E.: 1979, ‘Climatic fluctuations in the arid belt of the “Old World” since the last glacial maximum; possible causes and future implications’, Palaeoecology of Africa 11, in press.

  • Gabriel, B.: 1977, ‘Zum ökologischen Wandel in der östlichen Zentralsahara’, Berl. Geogr. Abhandl. 27, 111 pp.

  • Gasse, F.: 1975, ‘L'évolution des lacs de L'Afar Central (Ethiopie et T.F.A.I.) du Plio-Pléistocène à l'Actuel’, Ph.D. Thesis, Université de Paris VI, 1, 406 pp.

  • Gates, W. L.: 1976, ‘The numerical simulation of ice-age climate with a global general circulation model’, J. Atmos. Sci. 33, 1844–1873.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giresse, P.: 1975, ‘Nouveaux aspects concernant le Quaternaire littoral et sous-marin du secteur Gabon-Congo-Cabinda-Zaïre et accessoirement de l'Angola’, Ass. Sénégal. Et. Quatern. Afr., Bull. Liaison, Sénégal, No. 46, 45–52.

  • Giresse, P.: 1978, ‘Le contrôle climatique de la sédimentation marine et continentale en Afrique Centrale Atlantique á la fin du Quaternaire - problèmes de corrélation’, Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol, Palaeoecol. 23, 57–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giresse, P., Kouyoumontzakis, G., and Delibrias, G.: 1976, ‘La transgression fini-holocène en Angola, aspects chronologique, eustatique, paléoclimatique et épirogènique’, C. R. Acad. Sc. Paris 283, 1157–1160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grove, A. T.: 1972, ‘Climatic change in Africa in the last 20,000 years’, Coll. Ouarghla, Les Problèmes de Developement du Sahara Septentrionale, Algiers, 2, 30 pp.

  • Grove, A. T. and Goudie, A. S.: 1971, ‘Late-Quaternary Lake Levels in the Rift Valley of Southern Ethiopia and Elsewhere in Tropical Africa’, Nature 234, 403–405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grove, A. T., Street, F. A., and Goudie, A. S.: 1975, ‘Former lake levels and climatic change in the Rift Valley of Southern Ethiopia’, Geogr. J. 141, 177–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grove, A. T. and Warren, A.: 1968, ‘Quaternary landforms and climate on the south side of the Sahara’, Geogr. J. 134, 194–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagedorn, H., and Jäkel, D.: 1969, Bemerkungen zur quartären Entwicklung des Relief im Tibesti-Gebirge (Tchad)', Bull. ASEQUA (Dakar) 23, 25–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hastenrath, S. L.: 1971, ‘On snowline depression and atmospheric circulation in the tropical Americas during the Pleistocene’, S. Af. Geog. J. 53, 53–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, T. J.: 1976, ‘The paleolimnology of Lake Mobutu Sese Seko, Uganda-Zaïre: the last 28,000 years’, Ph.D. Dissertation, Duke University, 104 pp.

  • Haynes, V.: 1977, ‘Quaternary lakes of the Libyan desert, Egypt and Sudan’, X INQUA Congress, Abstracts, Birmingham, 198 pp.

  • Hays, J. D.: 1978, 'A review of the Late Quaternary climatic history of Antarctic Seas. In E. M. van Zinderen Bakker (ed.), Antarctic Glacial History and World Paleoenvironment, Balkema, Rotterdam, 190 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hays, J. D., Lozano, J., and Irving, G.: 1974, '17,000-year map of the Atlantic and western Indian Ocean sectors of the Antarctic Ocean (60° to 30° S). High southern latitude estimated temperature changes of the last 20,000 years. Mapping the Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations and other Climatic Parameters at the time of the Last Glacial Maximum about 17,000 years ago, Abstracts (Norwich), Climatic Research Unit (University of East Anglia) Research Report 2, 52–53, 80–81.

  • Hébrard, L.:1972, ‘Contribution à l'étude géologique du Quaternaire du littoral mauritanien entre Nouakchott et Nouadhibou 18°–21° N’, Publ. Lab. Geol. Fac. Sc. Univ. Dakar, 2 vols.

  • Heine, K.: 1978, ‘Jungquartäre Pluviale und Interpluviale in der Kalahari (südliches Afrika)’, Palaeoecology of Africa, 10 (E. M. van Zinderen Bakker and J. A. Coetzee, (eds.)), A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam, 31–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hervieu, J.: 1970, ‘Influence des changements de climat sur le relief et les sols due Nord Cameroun’, Ann. Géogr. Fr., no. 433, 386–398.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hervieu, J.: 1972, ‘Evolution du milieu naturel en Afrique et à Madagascar, Part I; l'interprétation paléoclimatique du Quaternaire, Essai de synthèse’, Serv. Sc. centraux ORSTOM, 221 pp.

  • Hess, S.: 1959, Introduction to Theoretical Meteorology, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York, 362 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holdship, S. A.: 1976, ‘The paleolimnology of Lake Manyara, Tanzania: a diatom analysis of a 56 meter sediment core’, Ph.D. Dissertation, Duke University, 121 pp.

  • Hurault, J.: 1970, ‘Les Lavaka de Banyo (Cameroun) témoins de paleoclimats’, Bull. Ass. Geogr. Fr., (3–13), 377–378.

  • Hurault, J.: 1971, ‘La signification morphologique des lavakas’, Rev. Géogr. phys. et Géol. Dynam. 3, 122–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurault, J.: 1972, ‘Phases climatiques tropicals sèches à Banyo (Cameroun, Haut Plateau de l'Adamawa)’. In E. M. van Zinderen Bakker (ed.), Palaeoecology in Africa pp. 93–101.

  • Ives, J. D., Andrews, J. T., and Barry, R. G.: 1975, ‘Growth and decay of the Laurentide ice sheet and comparisons with Fenno-Scandinavia’, Die Naturwissenschaften 62, 118–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jäkel, D.: 1978, ‘Eine Klimakurve für die Zentralsahara’, In Museen der Stadt Köln, Sahara: 10,000 Jahre zwischen Weide und Wüste, Cologne, 382–396.

  • Kendall, R. L.: 1969, ‘An ecological history of the Lake Victoria Basin’, Ecol, Monogr. 39, 121–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klute, F.: 1949, ‘Rekonstruction des Klimas der letzten Eiszeit in Mitteleuropa’, Geogr. Rdsch. 1, 121–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kouyoumontzakis, G., and Giresse, P.: 1975, ‘L'évolution à la fin du Pléistocène et à l'Holocène du littoral Angolais de Lobito-Benguela et Mossamedes’, Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 71, 49–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kraus, E. G.: 1977, ‘Subtropical droughts and cross-equatorial energy transports’, Mon. Wea. Rev. 105, 1009–1018.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamb, H.: 1977, Climate: Present, Past and Future (Vol. II). Methuen, London, 835 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamb, H., and Woodroffe, A.: 1970, ‘Atmospheric circulation during the last Ice Age’, Quaternary Res., 1, 29–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Livingstone, D. A.: 1975, ‘Late Quaternary climatic change in Africa’, Ann. Rev. Ecol. and Systematics 6, 249–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Livingstone, D. A.: 1979, ‘Environmental changes in the Nile headwaters’. In M. A. J. Williams and H. Faure (eds.), The Sahara and the Nile, A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lliboutry, L.: 1965, Traité de Glaciologie, Vol. 2, Masson, Paris.

  • Lubell, D.: 1974, ‘The Capsian of Algeria: a study of Holocene subsistence’, AMQUA Abstracts of Third Bienniel Meeting (Madison), 84–85.

  • Maley, J.: 1977a, ‘Analyses polliniques et paléoclimatologie des douze derniers millénaires du bassin du Tchad (Afrique Centrale)’, Suppl. Bull. Ass. fr. Et. Quat., Paris 50, 187–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maley, J.: 1977b, ‘Palaeoclimates of Central Sahara during the early Holocene’, Nature 269, 573–577.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manabe, S., and Wetherald, R. T.: 1975, ‘The effects of doubling the CO2 concentration on the climate of a general circulation model’, J. Atmos. Sci. 32, 3–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • McHugh, W. P.: 1971, ‘Late Prehistoric cultural adaptation in the Southeastern Libyan desert’, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Wisconsin, Anthropology Dept, Madison.

    Google Scholar 

  • McIntyre, A., et al.: 1975, ‘Thermal and oceanic structures of the Atlantic through a glacial-interglacial cycle’, WMO/IAMAP Symposium on Long-term Climatic Fluctuations, Proc., Norwich, England, 75–80.

  • Mercer, J. H.: 1977, ‘The Antarctic and South America’, X INQUA Congress, Birmingham, Abstracts, 299.

  • Michel, P.: 1973, ‘Les bassins des fleuves Sénégal et Gambie: étude géomorphologique’, 2, ORSTOM, Mem. 63, Paris.

  • Munson, P. J.: 1971, ‘The Tichitt tradition: a Late Prehistoric occupation of the Southwestern Sahara’, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Illinois, Urbana, 393 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicholson, S. E.: 1976, ‘A Climatic Chronology for Africa: Synthesis of Geological, Historical and Meteorological Information and Data’, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Wisconsin, Department of Meteorology, 324 p.

  • Nicholson, S. E.: 1980, ‘The nature of rainfall fluctuation in subtropical West Africa’, Mon. Wea. Rev., in press.

  • Otterman, J.: 1974, ‘Baring high-albedo soils by overgrazing: a hypothesized desertification mechanism’, Science 186, 531–533.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pachur, H. J.: 1975, ‘Zur spätpleistozänen und holozänen Formung auf der Nordabdachung des Tibestigebirges’, Die Erde 106, 21–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmen, E., and Newton, C. W.: 1969, Atmospheric Circulation Systems. Academic Press, New York, 603 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parkin, D. W., and Shackleton, N.: 1973, ‘Trade-wind and temperature correlations down a deep-sea core off the Saharan coast’, Nature 245, 455–457.

    Google Scholar 

  • Penck, A.: 1914, ‘The shifting of the climatic belts’, Scottish Geog. Mag. 30, 281–293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petit-Marie, N.: 1979, ‘Holocene biogeographical variations along the NW African coast (28–16° N). Palaeoclimatic implications’, Palaeoecology of Africa 11, in press.

  • Pias, J., and Guichard, E.: 1957, ‘Origine et conséquences de l'existence d'un cordon sableux dans la partie Sud-Ouest de la cuvette tchadienne’, C.R.Ac.Sc., Paris 244, 791–793.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poser, H.: 1948, ‘Boden und Klimaverhältnisse in Mittel und Western Europa während der Würm Eiszeit’, Erdkunde 2, 53–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rognon, P.: 1967, ‘Le massif de l'Atakor et ses bordures (Sahara Central). Etude géomorphologique’, C.N.R.S., Paris 9, 559 pp.

  • Rognon, P.: 1975, ‘Modifications naturelles due cycle hydrométéorologique depuis 10,000 ans’, C.R.XII Journées de l'Hydraulique Soc. Hydrotech. Fr., Paris, 18 pp.

  • Rognon, P.: 1976, ‘Essai d'interprétation des variations climatiques au Sahara depuis 40,000 ans’, Rev. Geogr. Phys. Géol Dyn. 18, 251–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rognon, P. and Williams, M. A. J.: 1977, ‘Late Quaternary Climatic Changes in Australia and North Africa: A Preliminary Interpretation’, Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol, Palaeoecol. 21, 285–327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruddiman, W. F. and McIntyre, A.: 1973, ‘Time-transgressive deglacial retreat of polar waters from the North Atlantic’, Quaternary Res. 3, 117–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruddiman, W. F. and McIntyre A.: 1977, ‘Late Quaternary surface ocean kinematics and climatic change in the high-latitude North Atlantic’, J. Geophys. Res. 82, 3877–3887.

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Servant, M.: 1973, ‘Séquences continentales et variations climatiques: évolution du bassin du Tchad au Cénozoique supérieur’, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Paris, 348 pp.

  • Servant, M.: 1974, ‘Les variations climatiques des régions intertropicals du continent african depuis la fin du Pleistocene’, XIII Journées Hydr., Paris, 11 pp.

  • Simpson, G. C.: 1957, ‘Further studies in world climate’, Quar. J. Roy. Met. Soc. 83, 459–485.

    Google Scholar 

  • Street, F. A., and Grove, A. T.: 1976, ‘Environmental and climatic implications of Late Quaternary lake-level fluctuations in Africa’, Nature 261, 385–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Talbot, M. R., and Delibrias, G.: 1977, ‘Holocene variations in the level of Lake Bosumtwi, Ghana’, Nature 268, 722–724.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trempel, U.: 1978, ‘Eine klimatologische Auswertung der meteorologische Beobachtungen deutscher Handelsschiffe vor der Westküste Südamerikas im Zeitraum 1869–1970’, Thesis, Universität Bonn, 124 pp.

  • Tricart, J.: 1965, ‘Rapport de la mission de reconnaissance géomorphologique du Delta du Sénégal’, Mém. Bur. Rech. Géol Min., Paris 8, 137 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Viete, G.: 1950, ‘Die Zirkulation während der Diluvianen Vereisungsperioden’, Tellus 2, 102–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wendorf, F., etal.: 1977, ‘Late Pleistocene and recent climatic changes in the Egyptian Sahara’, Geogr. J. 143, 218–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wickens, G. E.: 1975, ‘Ecological problems in the interpretation of the palaeoenvironments of the Sudan’, Proc. of the IGU Meeting on Desertification, Cambridge, pp. 55–61.

  • Willett, H. C.: 1950, ‘The general circulation at the last (Würm) glacial maximum’, Geogr. Annaler 31, 179–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, G. E.: 1970, ‘Piedmont sedimentation and late Quarternary chronology in the Biskra region of the Northern Sahara’, Z. Geom., suppl. 10, p. 40–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, M. A. J.: 1966, ‘Age of alluvial clays in the western Gezira (Republic of the Sudan)’, Nature 211, 270–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, M. A. J. and Adamson, D. A.: 1974, ‘Late Pleistocene desiccation along the White Nile’, Nature 248, 584–586.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, M. A. J., Medani, A. H., Talent, J. A., and Mawson, R.: 1974, ‘A note on Upper Quaternary subfossil mollusca west of Jebel Aulia’, Sudan Notes and Records 74, 168–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, M. A. J., Clark, J. D., Adamson, D. A., and Gillespie, R.: 1975, ‘Recent Quaternary research in Central Sudan’, Bull. ASEQUA (Dakar) 46, 75–86.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Sharon E. Nicholson

    Present address: Graduate School of Geography, Clark University, 01610, Worcester, MA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, 22903, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

    Sharon E. Nicholson

  2. Meteorologisches Institut, Universität Bonn, 1, Bonn, FRG

    Hermann Flohn

Authors
  1. Sharon E. Nicholson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hermann Flohn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nicholson, S.E., Flohn, H. African environmental and climatic changes and the general atmospheric circulation in late pleistocene and holocene. Climatic Change 2, 313–348 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00137203

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00137203

Keywords

Search

Navigation