Some methodological difficulties associated with Quaternary palaeoclimatic reconstructions

Abstract

Article in French.

ORIGINAL TITLE: Quelques difficultés méthodologiques présentées par les reconstitutions paléoclimatiques du Quaternaire

This paper examines methodological difficulties in reconstructing Quaternary paleoenvironments. It highlights the limits of uniformitarianism when applied to complex systems involving climate, geomorphological processes, and ecosystems. Using examples from glacial and periglacial studies – particularly from the Łódź School – the author underscores the value of detailed sedimentological and geomorphological observations. The paper critiques attempts to infer past climates or hydrological regimes from modern analogues, emphasizing the uniqueness of Quaternary conditions. Author calls for a systemic approach that acknowledges the limitations arising from palaeoecological analyses, interactions between subsystems, and the incompleteness of available data. The author advocates for empirical precision over speculative modelling in advancing palaeoenvironmental science.