Quantitative reconstructions of quaternary climates using pollen: assumptions, numerical techniques and calibration datasets

Pollen assemblages are increasingly used for quantitative reconstructions of past climate parameters. Estimated temperatures and precipitations can be coupled with palaeoecological records to make their interpretation more robust. Although the potential of numerical techniques is suggested by published and ongoing researches, improvements in the calibration datasets used to compare fossil and modern pollen spectra are needed. Current limitations within the European Modern Pollen Database concerning data quality and density are discussed. Attention is given to altitudinal training sets of modern pollen rain - vegetation - climate - terrain parameters, allowing a better understanding of pollen dispersal and deposition across elevational gradients.