{{Short description|Climate or climatological period climate characterized by relatively high precipitation}} {{Expand German|Pluvial|date=May 2014}} {{distinguish|text=the pluviale, a liturgical vestment}}
In geology and climatology, a '''pluvial''' is either a modern climate characterized by relatively high precipitation or an interval of time of variable length, decades to thousands of years, during which a climate is characterized by relatively high precipitation or humidity. Subdivisions of a pluvial, which are characterized by relatively high precipitation, are known as a '''subpluvials'''. Formally, pluvials were equated with glacial stages of the Quaternary. However, pluvials, as in equatorial regions, can also occur during interglacial stages. No lower latitudes have experienced major pluvials in early to mid-Holocene times.
In geomorphology, a pluvial refers to a geologic episode, change, process, deposit, or feature that is the result of the action or effects of rain. Sometimes, it also refers to the fluvial action of rainwater flowing in a stream channel, including a flood, known as a '''pluvial flood''', that is the direct result of excessive precipitation.<ref name="Bradley2015a">Bradley, R.S. (2015) ''Paleoclimatology: reconstructing climates of the Quaternary.'' (3r ed.). Boston, Massachusetts, Academic Press 696 pp. {{ISBN|978-0-12-386913-5}}</ref><ref name="NeuendorfOthers2005a">Neuendorf, K.K.E., J.P. Mehl, Jr., and J.A. Jackson, eds. (2005) ''Glossary of Geology'' (5th ed.). Alexandria, Virginia, American Geological Institute. 779 pp. {{ISBN|0-922152-76-4}}</ref>
==See also== {{Wiktionary|pluvial}}
*African pluvial periods *Abbassia Pluvial *Carnian Pluvial Event *Mousterian Pluvial *Neolithic Subpluvial *Pluvial lake
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://books.google.com/books?id=8OKPBAAAQBAJ&dq=abbassia+gravel&pg=PA59 ''The Geological Evolution of the River Nile'', by Rushdi Said]
Category:Climatology Category:History of climate variability and change Category:Prehistoric Africa
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