The Last Glacial Maximum in the Northern European loess belt: Correlations between loess-paleosol sequences and the Dehner Maar core (Eifel Mountains)
Abstract
The D1 project of the CRC 806 “Our way to Europe” focusses on Central Europe as a destination of modernhuman dispersal out of Africa. The paleo-environmental conditions along the migration areas are reconstructed byloess-paleosol sequences and lacustrine sediments. Stratigraphy and luminescence dating provide the chronolog-ical framework for the correlation of grain size and geochemical data to large-scale climate proxies like isotoperatios and dust content of Greenland ice cores. The reliability of correlations is improved by the development ofprecise age models of specific marker beds. In this study, we focus on the (terrestrial) Last Glacial Maximum of theWeichselian Upper Pleniglacial which is supposed to be dominated by high wind speeds and an increasing aridity.Especially in the Lower Rhine Embayment (LRE), this period is linked to an extensive erosion event. The discon-formity is followed by an intensive cryosol formation. In order to support the stratigraphical observations from thefield, luminescence dating and grain size analysis were applied on three loess-paleosol sequences along the north-ern European loess belt to develop a more reliable chronology and to reconstruct paleo-environmental dynamics.The loess sections were compared to newest results from heavy mineral and grain size analysis from the DehnerMaar core (Eifel Mountains) and correlated to NGRIP records. Volcanic minerals can be found in the Dehner Maarcore from a visible tephra layer at 27.8 ka up to∼25 ka. They can be correlated to the Eltville Tephra found inloess section. New quartz luminescence ages from Romont (Belgium) surrounding the tephra dated the depositionbetween 25.0 + 2.3 ka and 25.8 + 2.4 ka. In the following, heavy minerals show an increasing importance of strongeasterly winds during the second Greenland dust peak (∼24 ka b2k) correlating with an extensive erosion event inthe LRE. Luminescence dating on quartz bracketing the following soil formation yielded ages of 23.6 + 2.1 ka atthe base and 22.1 + 2.0 ka above, which are in excellent agreement with the Greenland interstadial 2 (∼23.5-22.5ka b2k). Intensive frost weathering and solifluction indicate distinct moister conditions with periodical thawing ofpermafrost. The influence of eastern winds is subordinated and a stronger oceanic influence is more probable. Theinterstadial ends with a massive accumulation of primary, unstratified loess mainly by easterly winds accordingto heavy mineral contents from the Dehner Maar (∼22-19.5 ka) suggesting increasing continentality and aridity.This change corresponds with the first retreat of the Scandinavian ice sheet from the Brandenburg to the Frankfurtstage. The results indicate that the development of loess sections is associated with the complex interaction ofchanges in temperature, wind directions, and differences in moisture availability. Grain size, heavy minerals anddistinct phases of soil development as well as erosion events recorded such major changes in paleo-environmentalconditions and can be correlated by luminescence dating precisely.
Bibliography
Zens, J., Krauß, L., Römer, W., Klasen, N., Pirson, S., Schulte, P., Zeeden, C., Sirocko, F., Lehmkuhl, F. (2016): The Last Glacial Maximum in the Northern European loess belt: Correlations between loess-paleosol sequences and the Dehner Maar core (Eifel Mountains). EGU General Assembly 2016, 17.-22.4. 2016, Vienna, Austria
| author | Zens, J. and Krauß, L. and Römer, W. and Klasen, N. and Pirson, S. and Schulte, P. and Zeeden, C. and Sirocko, F. and Lehmkuhl, F. |
|---|---|
| key | J.Zens2016 |
| organization | EGU General Assembly 2016, 17.-22.4. 2016, Vienna, Austria |
| type | poster |
| year | 2016 |