QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL, cilt.302, ss.110-122, 2013 (SCI-Expanded)
Reinterpretation of vegetation and climatic conditions of Anatolia and neighboring regions during Last Glacial (30-15 cal ka BP) have been done using a non-quantitative biomization approach based on previously published plant functional types. The results suggest that the climate was cold and humid before similar to 25 cal ka BP and also during the period similar to 23-19 cal ka BP (except East Anatolia). Forest vegetation was 80-90% of the land cover in the northwestern Anatolia and Black Sea coast, and 50-60% along the Mediterranean coast at the same period. During Heinrich Event 2, from similar to 25 to 23 cal ka BP, steppe vegetation dominated the Anatolian region due to the sudden change to very cold and arid conditions. Approximately between 18 and 16 cal ka BP in the Late Glacial, during Heinrich Event 1, a brief interval of cold and arid conditions resulted in weaker steppe vegetation over some part of Anatolia. Around at 15 cal ka BP, suitable climatic conditions for forest vegetation prevailed across a great part of Anatolia, except for Eastern Anatolia and Western Iran, which are highlands. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.