Changes in Environment and Climate During Early Pliocene in the Southern West-Siberian Plain

Joint analysis of geological, paleontological, and paleopedological data permitted paleogeo-graphical and paleoclimatic reconstructions within narrow time sections of the Early Pliocene and reliable identification of the Pliocene climatic optimum whose climatic conditions are considered to be a possible analog scenario for climatic conditions of the middle of the next century. Global correlations are given for major climatic events. Under discussion are data about the distribution of atmospheric precipitation in Inner Asia. Data are presented concerning the appearance of the constant ice cover in the Polar Basin.