Palaeoenvironments during MIS 3 and MIS 2 inferred from lacustrine intercalations in the loess–palaeosol sequence at Bobingen (southern Germany)

Recently exposed loess–palaeosol sequences in the northern Alpine foreland close to Bobingen (southern Germany) were investigated with a multi-proxy approach combining isotopic, geochemical, lithological, and micropalaeontological methods. Luminescence ages date the sections into the Middle and Upper Würmian periods corresponding to Marine Isotope Stages 3 and 2. A gleyic soil horizon at the base was dated to 45 ka and provided a palynoflora dominated by Poaceae, Cyperaceae, and Pinus, as well as frequent aquatic taxa. Lacustrine conditions prevailed after the gley formation until 30 ka, providing a comparatively diverse lacustrine fauna dominated by aquatic gastropods and the ostracod species Candona candida. At the transition to the Upper Würm, climatic conditions became harsh, indicated by accelerated deposition of more coarse-grained loess, organic geochemical indicators, and scarceness of biotic remains. Two tundra-gley horizons in the Upper Würm point to short phases of climatic amelioration with higher humidity also evidenced by reoccurrence of ostracod and aquatic gastropod remains. We propose that these climatic ameliorations were coincident with the Greenland interstadials 4 and 2.

Process evaluation of profile-differentiated gleyed soils of Precarpathians

Process analysis of profile-differentiated soils of the Precarpathians dismembered them to ESP set: basic processes (lessivage, oxidative segregation, spotty gley formation, the surface flow of organic matter, its nutrient transformation, gley (Fe, Mn) migration of substances); allocated linked processes (mineralization of organic matter and humus, humification), background processes (coagulation and biogenic structure formation, the disintegration of mineral matter, the transformation of clay minerals, calcium and salt migration). Sometimes occurs processes of subsurface input of organic matter, migration and immobilization of humic substances, the destruction of silicates, abiogenic (cryogenic) and biogenic pedoturbations. Creation of possible process soil types support the hypothesis of their geterogenetics. Key words: elementary soil processes, profile-differentiated soils, Precarpathians.