Morphology and micromorphology of the loess-paleosol sequences in the south of the East European plain (MIS 1–MIS 17)

Abstract

The micro- and macromorphological studies performed on the loess-soil sequences in the south of the East European Plain permitted to identify and describe the type of soil-formation processes that took part in the development of interstadial and interglacial paleosols. Four paleosol complexes are distinctly identified within the limits of the studied region: Vorona (MIS 13/15), Inzhavino (MIS 8/9 or MIS 10/11), Kamenka (MIS 6/7 or MIS 8/9), Mezin (MIS 5); besides, there are the Bryansk interstadial paleosol (MIS 3) and Rzhaksa interglacial paleosol (MIS 17), both well identifiable in the region. The results obtained are in general agreement with the earlier conclusions by Velichko et al. (2012) about a general reduction of heat and moisture supply and an increase in aridity from the earlier towards later stages of the Pleistocene. The new data revealed, however, a few differences from the earlier concept. To mention but one example, we have found that the Kamenka interglacial (MIS 7 or MIS 9) paleosols formed in environments more humid than those of the Likhvin interglacial (MIS 9 or MIS 11).