Short, sharp fluctuations in the Earth’s climate throughout the last ice age may have stopped trees from getting a foothold in Europe and northern Asia, scientists say.

According to a new study, warm spells were so brief that trees were unable to establish themselves before the temperature shot back down again.

‘The warm events were so short-lived that ecosystems weren’t able to respond in full,’ says Professor Brian Huntley, of Durham University, who led the study.