Donnees paleoclimatiques du neogene de la Vallee du Rhone (France)
Abstract The Mediterranean Neogene climatic history has been delineated on the basis of an analysis of various marine and terrestrial fossil groups: large Foraminifera, Madreporaria, Bryozoa, Mollusca, Crustacea, Echinodermata, Amphibia, Reptilia, macro- and micro-Mammalia, and the spore and pollen assemblages. Studies were conducted independently on these groups, and inter-group discrepancies in interpretation are of only a minor nature. A synoptic view of the climatic history is presented. Two kinds of climatic changes have been recognized, major and minor, occurring in the middle Miocene and middle Pliocene. The climate was warm and damp during the early Miocene, with a warming trend leading to maximum temperatures observed in the later part of the early Miocene. During the middle Miocene a reduction in temperature and moisture is observed. The late Miocene is characterized by increasing aridity. The Pliocene climate was more variable depending upon geographic location. During the late Pliocene climatic cooling occurred heralding the gradual intensification of cold climatic conditions during the Quaternary.