Multi-proxy analysis of two loess-paleosol sequences in southern Germany

Two loess-paleosol sequences from the Heilbronn Basin in southwestern Germany, Frankenbach and Talheim, have been investigated to gain information about environmental conditions during the last interglacial-glacial cycle. Since paleoenvironmental research on terrestrial archives is crucial for under...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Krauß, Lydia, Kappenberg, Arne, Zens, Joerg, Kehl, Martin, Schulte, Philipp, Zeeden, Christian, Eckmeier, Eileen, Lehmkuhl, Frank
Format: Dataset
Language:English
Published: PANGAEA 2021
Subjects:
Aeolian sediments
Baden-Württemberg
Germany
Frankenbach
Heilbronn Basin
Our Way to Europe: Culture-Environment Interaction and Human Mobility in the Late Quaternary
OUTCROP
Outcrop sample
periglacial
Quaternary
SFB806
Talheim
Subarctic
Online Access:https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.931189
https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.931189
Description
Summary:Two loess-paleosol sequences from the Heilbronn Basin in southwestern Germany, Frankenbach and Talheim, have been investigated to gain information about environmental conditions during the last interglacial-glacial cycle. Since paleoenvironmental research on terrestrial archives is crucial for understanding past climatic and environmental conditions, the profiles were studied using a multi-proxy approach. Applied methods include the analyses of grain-size distribution, element concentrations, color data, and rock magnetism. The data reveal that the two profiles show large variations in conservation due to their different geomorphologic positions. Moreover, the results imply a subarctic climate with stable conditions during the Middle Pleniglacial (MIS 3) in-situ soil formation phase. At the same time, the Lower Pleniglacial (MIS 4) was characterized by erosion and reworking of Eemian and Early Glacial (MIS 5) material but also by the accumulation of aeolian material during the late Lower Pleniglacial (MIS 4) in Frankenbach. The results further suggest that the Rhine River floodplain has been a major source for the accumulated material in the two profiles, which indicates westerly wind directions during the time of accumulation. The low GSI and U-Ratio of Upper Pleniglacial (MIS 2) sediments, supported by the overall high content of fine material, imply a larger distance to the source area. We give an overview of loess in the Heilbronn Basin and place it in a wider context of loess in Western Europe.

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