On the quantity of the glacial–interglacial cycles of the Brunhes Chron identified in the deep-water and terrestrial sections

Abstract

Based on the fact that eight global glacial–interglacial cycles are identified in the Brunhes Chron from the deep-sea oxygen isotope records, it is shown that the discrepancies in the number of glacial cycles determined from the deep-water and terrestrial paleoclimatic records largely come from the loess sequences of different regions. An incomplete geological record, the uncertain position of the Matuyama–Brunhes geomagnetic reversal in the geological sequence, and insufficiently correct identification of the climatic rank of the corresponding warmings and coolings are the most probable sources of this inconsistency. A consistent systematic approach applied in the integrated investigations of the loess-soil sequences is likely to yield the solution to these problems. The guidelines are suggested for the paleomagnetic studies focused on the most accurate location of the Matuyama–Brunhes reversal in the loess sequences.