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Updated: Jan 7, 2026
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Early Holocene Quantitative Summer Temperature Reconstructions in SE Lithuania Inferred from Chironomidae Data
Neringa Gastevičienė1, Gražyna Kluczynska1, Vaida Šeirienė1
1State Scientific Research Institute Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania.
Biology
|December 30, 2025
Summary
Early Holocene climate in Lithuania showed significant oscillations, with mean July temperatures similar to today. Chironomid subfossils reveal key climate events like the Preboreal oscillation.
Area of Science:
- Paleoclimatology
- Quaternary Science
- Environmental History
Background:
- Chironomid subfossils offer valuable insights into past environmental conditions.
- Reconstructing Early Holocene climate is crucial for understanding long-term climate dynamics.
- Studies on the Eastern Baltic region's climate history are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reconstruct the environmental history of Čepkeliai palaeolake during the Early Holocene.
- To specifically analyze climate change, focusing on mean July air temperatures.
- To contribute to the understanding of climate variability in the Eastern Baltic region.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of chironomid subfossils from Čepkeliai palaeolake sediments.
- Inference of mean July air temperatures using chironomid-climate calibration datasets from Fennoscandia, Finland, and Poland.
- Correlation of reconstructed climate events with those from neighboring regions.
Main Results:
- Mean July temperatures during the Early Holocene ranged from 13.2 °C to 18.5 °C.
- Reconstructions indicate climate variability, including the Preboreal oscillation and other significant oscillations (10.2k, 9.2k, 8.2k years BP).
- Reconstructed temperatures were comparable to present-day values.
Conclusions:
- Chironomid analysis provides a reliable method for reconstructing Early Holocene climate in Lithuania.
- The identified climatic events align with broader European climate patterns.
- This study enhances the understanding of climate change in the understudied Eastern Baltic region.
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