Character, Age, and Ecological Significance of Pleistocene Periglacial Slope Deposits in Germany

Abstract

Periglacial slope deposits (PSD) of Pleistocene age are one of the most widely distributed sediment types in nonglaciated mid-latitude regions. As diamictons of different genesis (geli-solifluction, cryoturbation, eolian transportation) they have a wide range of physical, chemical and mineralogical characteristics which are mainly controlled by bedrock geology, including saprolite. This paper reviews concepts used in Germany to study PSD stratigraphy and describes the different PSD units encountered (Upper Head, Middle Head, Lower Head). The paper is relevant to the understanding of PSDs in other midlatitude regions. Classical and new results concerning the age of PSDs show differences in the interpretation of Upper Head genesis. In terms of their ecological significance, case studies from eastern Bavaria illustrate the influence of PSDs on the character and intensity of slope hydrological processes as well as on the formation and distribution of soils. Presently important research questions include (1) the establishment of a genetically based classification of PSDs, (2) the intensification of dating studies on PSDs, and (3) the clarification of hydrological processes in PSDs. [

Hillslope runoff generation influenced by layered subsurface in a headwater catchment in Ore Mountains, Germany

“…In the LB, in spite of its high bulk density, we measured comparatively high hydraulic conductivities with a median of 0.52 m day -1 (range 0.04-2.20 m day -1 ). This may be due to the sandy substrate, as well as the coarse clasts oriented parallel to the slope, which increase the saturated hydraulic conductivity and carry flow in lateral direction (Kleber and Schellenberger 1998;Raab et al 2007). Sauer and Logsdon (2002) determined an increasing hydraulic conductivity with cumulative clast content (40-69 %) with water saturation; they measured an opposite relationship under unsaturated conditions.…”

How Slow Rock Weathering Balances Nutrient Loss During Fast Forest Floor Turnover in Montane, Temperate Forest Ecosystems

“…While most aspects of the sites are similar, the catchments differ in the chemical composition of their bedrock and in their elemental atmospheric supply fluxes. Even though neither study site was glaciated during the Quaternary, periglacial slope deposits developed during the last glacial maximum (Schaller et al, 2003;Raab et al, 2007), providing the source material for pedogenesis and setting subsurface water flow characteristics. For example, water infiltrating along vertical preferential flow paths (Julich et al, 2017) is redirected into lateral subsurface flow (Chifflard et al, 2008) due to the presence of rock fragments that are aligned parallel to the slope in the so-called basal layer (Kleber and Terhorst, 2013 and references therein).…”

Lithological discontinuities in Podzols developed from sandstone cover beds in the Stolowe Mountains (Poland)

“…Based on a strong frost-induced substrate transformation and layering, a concept of Pleistocene periglacial slope "coverbeds" has been developed, basically in relation to materials that contain an admixture or interlayering of eolian silt (Kleber, 1992;Kleber and Terhorst, 2013;Semmel and Terhorst, 2010). As shown in the mountainous areas of Germany (Raab and Völkel, 2003;Raab et al, 2007;Sauer and Felix-Henningsen, 2006), Switzerland (Mailänder and Veit, 2001) and Poland (Kacprzak and Derkowski, 2007;Kacprzak et al, 2013;Kowalkowski, 1995;Waroszewski et al, 2010) the "cover-bed" concept may also explain the origin of slope covers and soils, that do not contain loess admixture. Waroszewski et al (2013) demonstrated possible applicability of this concept to explain the development of mountain Podzols in the south-west of Poland, beyond the loessinfluenced territory.…”