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In Northern Tigray (Ethiopia), the combined presence in the valley bottoms of sedimentary fills several meters thick and of archaeological remains of human settlements (homes, camps) raises the question of the socio-environmental processes at the origin of these deposits and their interactions with human populations. However, in certain (national, legislative) contexts, it can be difficult to apply very advanced techniques or to perform a large number of analyses. This paper shows that a chronostratigraphic approach based on laser granulometry, loss on ignition and radiocarbon dating provides satisfactory answers to the main geoarchaeological questions. Our specific objective was to reconstruct the landscape and environmental changes in the region around the Wakarida archaeological site, based on the sedimentary deposits in the valley bottoms. These deposits are now cultivated by the inhabitants, thanks to the construction of agricultural terraces in the 20th century. Archaeological excavations unearthed an urban settlement at Wakarida which dates from the classical Aksumite (150–400/450 AD) and post-Aksumite (800/850 AD) periods, and traces of earlier archaeological occupations (pre- and proto-Aksumite periods, 800–50 BC) in the study area. These remains raise questions about the influence of societies on their environment. A method based on a combination of fieldwork, sedimentological analyses and dating was used to answer these questions. This chronostratigraphic study is partially based on the identification of chronological inversions, revealing ablation and depositional phases in the sedimentary cascades, which have to be taken into account to understand the evolution of the site. We identified several phases in the establishment of the present-day landscape around the Wakarida site. During the Northgrippian (Early Holocene), the valleys were progressively filled by low-energy alluvial and/or colluvial processes. During the Meghalayan (Middle Holocene), ablation processes alternated with depositions resulting from climatic processes and possible anthropogenic influences. From the 1st millennium BC, the impact of the population on its environment (deforestation) has resulted in chronological inversions in the deposits, particularly around the 14th and 17th centuries AD. Dans le Nord du Tigray (Éthiopie), la présence conjointe de remplissages sédimentaires de plusieurs mètres d’épaisseur dans les fonds de vallées et de vestiges archéologiques d’implantations humaines (habitat, campements) pose la question des processus socio-environnementaux à l’origine de ces dépôts et de leurs interactions avec les populations humaines. Cependant, dans certains contextes (nationaux, législatifs), il peut être difficile d’appliquer des techniques très avancées ou d’effectuer un grand nombre d’analyses. Cet article vise à montrer qu’une approche chronostratigraphique s’appuyant sur de la granulométrie laser, des analyses par perte au feu et des datations radiocarbones, apporte des réponses satisfaisantes aux principales questions géoarchéologiques. L’objectif est ici de reconstruire les changements paysagers et environnementaux de la région autour du site archéologique de Wakarida, en s’appuyant sur les dépôts sédimentaires de fonds de vallées. Ces dépôts sont aujourd’hui cultivés par les habitants grâce à la construction de terrasses agricoles, établies au XX e  siècle. Les fouilles archéologiques ont mis au jour un peuplement urbain à Wakarida, datant des périodes axoumite classique (150–400/450 ap. J.-C.) et post-axoumite (800/850 ap. J.-C.), et des traces d’occupations archéologiques plus anciennes (périodes pré et proto-axoumites, 800–50 av. J.-C.) dans la zone d’étude. Ces vestiges interrogent le rôle joué par les sociétés sur leur environnement. Pour répondre à ces questions, une méthode basée sur une combinaison de travaux de terrain, d’analyses sédimentologiques et de datations a été utilisée. Cette étude chronostratigraphique repose en partie sur la mise en évidence d’inversions chronologiques, révélant des phases d’ablation et de dépôts dans les cascades sédimentaires, dont la prise en compte est nécessaire à la compréhension de l’évolution du site. Nous avons ainsi identifié plusieurs phases dans l’établissement des paysages actuels autour du site de Wakarida. Au cours du Northgrippien (Holocène ancien), les vallées ont été progressivement comblées par des processus alluviaux et/ou colluviaux de faible énergie. Pendant le Méghalayen (Holocène moyen), les processus d’ablation alternent avec les dépôts, conséquence des processus climatiques et d’éventuels processus d’origine anthropique. À partir du I er millénaire av. J.-C., l’impact de la population sur son environnement (déboisement) se traduit par des inversions chronologiques dans les dépôts, particulièrement autour des XIV e et XVII e  siècles ap. J.-C.

Few studies address past droughts by combining different geographical and temporal scales, and a contextualization of social and environmental conditions. This paper proposes a study of the 1857–1858 dry spell in eastern France (Alsace), its natural (climatological and hydrological) as well as socio-political consequences. This episode is one of the major droughts that affected the north of France in the nineteenth century, as much by its duration as by its intensity. Here, we do not only consider the drought as a natural hazard producing physical damage (lack of water, weakening of river discharge) or social tensions (competition for the water, conflicts), but we place it in the particular context of the basins it affects, in order to better evaluate its natural and social intensity. First, we highlight the importance of the 1857–1858 drought from the regional to the Alsatian scale, by unravelling the spatial and temporal distribution of precipitations, based on available instrumental measurements. Depending on the stations, the rainfall deficit established between 10 and 40% of the average rainfall amount in 1857 or 1858. Suitable, narrative sources from municipal, departmental and national archives allow us to specify the position of water stakeholders and to analyse the discourses as well as their social and political reactions. Comparing natural and social data, it appears that rivalries for water resource did not necessarily match the meteorological rhythm of the dry spell. The severity of the drought varies depending on economic needs. Three periods seem very demanding for water consumers: August–September 1857, February 1858, and August–October 1858. The structural responses appear to be linked to the economic context, both at a local and national scale. Finally, our approach shows that drought partly is a socially constructed phenomenon, and one to consider carefully, when it comes to both contemporary and past events. Hence, to better understand drought episodes, we need to disentangle the socio-natural interactions at the local level.

Since the early 2000s, climate-pessimism has become a very popular film subject, reflecting some of the anxieties of today’s society. Thus disaster, dystopian and post-apocalyptic films are not only entertainment and manifestations of certain fashion effects, they are also a reflection of the scientific advances of their time. In this article, 55 films were selected based on the different representations of the climate and weather conditions they offer. The climate is presented and perceived very differently from one film to another. Although climate change has often become a privileged context in the scenarios of recent films, it is not necessarily put forward compared to other large-scale threats that humanity could face. Hostile weather and climate conditions provide an adequate atmosphere that points out the suffering conditions of the protagonists. The analysis of weather-climate phenomena highlights certain attempts to refer to recognized scientific work and results, if possible, in connection with phenomena with spectacular and catastrophic impacts, which allows to send warning messages to the spectators. Many films also tend to place the Earth into aridity. Beyond the more or less reliable scientific significance of a possible aridification according to the scenario concerned, the aesthetics of desert environments (sand-invaded cities, dust storms) is undoubtedly a deliberately desired effect in this category of films.

Depuis le début des années 2000, le « climato-pessimisme » est devenu un objet cinématographique de plus en plus prisé par les spectateurs, traduisant certaines angoisses de la société actuelle. Ainsi, les films catastrophe, dystopiques et post-apocalyptiques ne sont pas que de simples divertissements et manifestations de certains effets de mode, ils sont aussi le reflet des avancées scientifiques de leur temps. Dans cet article, 55 films ont été sélectionnés en fonction des différentes représentations du climat et des conditions météorologiques qu’ils proposent. Le climat est présenté et perçu très différemment d’un film à un autre. Bien que le changement climatique soit souvent devenu un contexte privilégié dans les scénarios des films récents, il n’est pas forcément mis en avant par rapport à d’autres menaces de grande ampleur auxquelles l’humanité pourrait faire face. Des conditions météo-climatiques hostiles confèrent en effet une ambiance adéquate qui s’ajoute aux multiples tourments subis par les protagonistes. L’analyse des phénomènes météo-climatiques fait ressortir certaines tentatives de se référer à des travaux et résultats scientifiques reconnus, si possible en lien avec des phénomènes aux impacts aussi spectaculaires que catastrophiques, et permet ainsi d’adresser des messages d’alerte et de mise en garde aux spectateurs. De nombreux films montrent aussi une certaine propension à plonger la Terre dans l’aridité. Au-delà de la pertinence scientifique plus ou moins valide d’une possible aridification selon le scénario concerné, l’esthétique des environnements désertiques (villes ensablées, tempêtes de poussière) est sans doute un effet délibérément recherché dans cette catégorie de films. Since the early 2000s, climate-pessimism has become a very popular film subject, reflecting some of the anxieties of today’s society. Thus disaster, dystopian and post-apocalyptic films are not only entertainment and manifestations of certain fashion effects, they are also a reflection of the scientific advances of their time. In this article, 55 films were selected based on the different representations of the climate and weather conditions they offer. The climate is presented and perceived very differently from one film to another. Although climate change has often become a privileged context in the scenarios of recent films, it is not necessarily put forward compared to other large-scale threats that humanity could face. Hostile weather and climate conditions provide an adequate atmosphere that points out the suffering conditions of the protagonists. The analysis of weather-climate phenomena highlights certain attempts to refer to recognized scientific work and results, if possible, in connection with phenomena with spectacular and catastrophic impacts, which allows to send warning messages to the spectators. Many films also tend to place the Earth into aridity. Beyond the more or less reliable scientific significance of a possible aridification according to the scenario concerned, the aesthetics of desert environments (sand-invaded cities, dust storms) is undoubtedly a deliberately desired effect in this category of films.