| Summary: | Upper pleniglacial loess and slope deposits in Europe frequently show an intensely cryoturbated gley horizon used as a stratigraphic benchmark level (the Nagelbeek Tongue Horizon). An equivalent horizon has been found in Mongolia, suggesting that it may characterize the whole Eurasiatic continent between latitudes 45° and 50° north. This horizon reflects a very cold episode marked by the aggradation of permafrost, followed by a sudden warming and a probable increase in snowfall, that gave rise to permafrost degradation. The latter episode is indicated by cryoturbation on gentle slopes and plug‐like solifluction or active‐layer sliding on steeper slopes. We correlate these processes to the Heinrich H2 cold event at ca. 21 kyr 14C BP and the following interstade that has been recognized in high‐resolution ice and marine records. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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