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An Introduction to the Holocene and Anthropic Disturbance

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Paleoclimatology

Part of the book series: Frontiers in Earth Sciences ((FRONTIERS))

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Abstract

The Holocene started about 10,000 years ago at the end of the last glaciation. The last thousand years of this period is marked by the growing impact of human activity (changes in land use and atmospheric composition). At first sight, the numerous data show us variations that are less spectacular than the great upheavals engendered by deglaciation. Nevertheless, the general natural trend, driven by changes in solar radiation at the top of the atmosphere, is characterized by radical changes in the monsoon and the El Niño phenomenon in the tropics. In the mid-latitudes of the northern hemisphere, the changes are seen in the characteristics of the main modes of variability. Several abrupt events also punctuate the unfolding of the process.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The current generated by the surface wind is rotated to the right of the wind in the northern hemisphere under the effect of the Coriolis force and reduces with depth under the effect of friction in the form of a spiral (Ekman’s spiral). The transport generated (Ekman transport) over the entire Ekman layer (about 100 m) is perpendicular to the wind.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement LSCE/IPSL, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France

    Pascale Braconnot & Pascal Yiou

Authors
  1. Pascale Braconnot
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  2. Pascal Yiou
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Correspondence to Pascale Braconnot .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. LSCE/IPSL, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France

    Gilles Ramstein

  2. LSCE/IPSL, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, Ariège, France

    Amaëlle Landais

  3. LSCE/IPSL, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, Ariège, France

    Nathaelle Bouttes

  4. LSCE/IPSL, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, Ariège, France

    Pierre Sepulchre

  5. LSCE/IPSL, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, Ariège, France

    Aline Govin

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Braconnot, P., Yiou, P. (2021). An Introduction to the Holocene and Anthropic Disturbance. In: Ramstein, G., Landais, A., Bouttes, N., Sepulchre, P., Govin, A. (eds) Paleoclimatology. Frontiers in Earth Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24982-3_30

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