La paléogéographie de l'Europe centre-occidentale au Weichsélien. Réflexions sur les paléosols et l'inertie climatique: la place du Massif Central

The glacial dynamic and the paleoclimate evolution of the french Massive Central is rather coherent from the last Interglacial up to the Holocene with those of north western Europe but with some differences. Precipitation evolution, inertie effects related with the thermal effects of the north european ice sheets and shelf and of the warm reservoir of the Mediterrannean sea have to be considered. Because of its altitude, permafrost extended earlier and longer in the Massive Central than in the surrounding regions and probably reached most of the lowlands, south one included. Thermal minimun on continental Europe occured around 25000BP, before the highest aridity (23000BP). Increase of the precipitations began around 22000BP and is followed by the maximal extension of the fennoscandian ice sheet. The maximal glacial extension in the Massive Central uses to be associated with abrupt cooling trend and Pomeranian surge is poorly expressed here. This shows that this event is mostly restricted to northern Europe.