Late pleistocene climate changes recorded in the central part of the northern european loess belt, "Современные исследования трансформации криосферы и вопросы геотехнической безопасности сооружений в Арктике"

Abstract

The northern European loess belt (NELB) was created in cold climate conditions on the foreground of Pleistocene continental glaciations. Loess-paleosol sequences (LPS) in this region were strongly influenced by periglacial processes and environments. Three types of periglacial structures are especially useful to reconstruct the former periglacial environment: cryogenic wedges with primary mineral infilling, cryoturbation and gelifluction structures, and ice-wedge pseudomorphs. These structures often form well-distinguishable marker horizons within LPS. We assume that at least some of these horizons were formed as a result of sudden, short-term cooling followed by equally sudden warming of the climate, when ice wedges and permafrost were decay. Periglacial records in the LPS confirm the general instability of the last glacial climate. The main periglacial stages correlate well with cold events of the marine record. However, their correlation with Greenland ice cores requires further research using modern methods and techniques.