Brunhes Epoch paleoclimates of Japan and Israel

Continuous pollen diagrams for the Brunhes Epoch, two from Lake Biwa, Japan and two from the Dead Sea Rift, Israel are the basis for reconstructing paleoenvironments and paleoclimatic trends on both sides of Asia, east and west, at approximately the same latitudes - the mid 30°N. The paleoclimatic curves are compared and correlated with the ocean oxygen isotope records. The correlation is based on detailed and better dated climatic models obtained for both localities for the last 100-150 k.y. Generally, similar climatic trends have been observed for both sides of Asia, correlating to the oxygen isotope curves. The glacial phases are manifested by cooler and more humid periods, the interglacials by a temperate climate in Japan and a warm, dry climate in Israel. Local climatic responses to global cooling or warming differ in Japan and Israel, and peaks of the oxygen isotope curves may appear amplified or reduced in any of the regions. The climatic responses to global processes differ from Japan to Israel in terms of amplitude, but not the style of changes. The causes for these differences in amplitude may lie with either the different local conditions - Japan being mainly controlled by the ocean while Israel is strongly influenced by the Sahara - or differences in the global distribution of ice through the ages, not recorded in the oxygen isotopes as long as the ice volume remains constant.