Abrupt Climatic Changes for the Last 13,000 Cal Years BP Using the Ifrah Lake Data (Middle Atlas, Morocco)

A new multiproxy analysis using mineralogy, geochemistry and microcharcoal data from Lake Ifrah (Middle Atlas, Morocco) provides new insights for better understanding high climatic changes for the last 13,000 cal yr BP. Before 13,000 cal yr BP, the concentration in microcharcol was very low in connection with low fire activity and probably cold climate. Between 13,000 and 12,300 cal yr BP, there is increase in microcharcoal in relation with the increase aridity. This period corresponds probably to the Bölling-alleröd period in High latitude. Between 12,300 and 10,800 cal yr BP, there is a new decrease of the microcharcol corresponding probably to the Younger Dryas cold period. Between 10,800 and 4,500 cal yr BP, marked a significant increase in microcharcoal abundance, which likely testifies to regional emissions from forest fires. Such biomass burning events were associated to prolonged periods of drought. The maximum of dryness occurred ca 8,500 cal yr BP.