The valdai periglacial zone as an area of cryogenic soil formation

Paleoenvironmental interpretation based on macro- and microstructure analysis of Pleistocene slope covers: A case study from the Miechów Upland, Poland

“…In addition, since the area of the research lies in the central part of the northern European loess belt, the results of the research were also compared with stratigraphic schemes published for loess in Western Europe (cf. Huijzer and Isarin, 1997;Haesaerts and Mestdagh, 2000;Antoine et al, 2001;Guiter et al, 2003) as well as Ukraine and Russia (Bogutsky, 1986;Morozova and Nechajew, 1997;Haesaerts and Mestdagh, 2000;Bogutsky and Łanczont, 2007;Jary, 2009;Jary and Ciszek, 2013). This comparison indicated that the sequence of paleoenvironmental change described in this paper corresponds that published in the research literature for the European loess belt.…”

“…gray spots and streaks and the occurrence of ferruginous concretions (visible at both macroand microscale) indicate gleying, which is very common as a result of water stagnation on the perennial permafrost (cf. Morozova and Nechajew, 1997; Van Vliet-Lanoë, 1998). The macroscopically visible dark lamina is a remnant of the humus horizon.…”

“…It is widely accepted that the presence of ice-wedge cast structures is evidence of the occurrence of permafrost (Goździk, 1973;Jahn, 1975;Jersak, 1975;Mackay, 1989;Vandenberghe and Pissart, 1993;Murton and Kolstrup, 2003). There also exists a view that the winter freezing of the ground in a cold and dry continental climate is sufficient to prove the origin of the aforesaid structures (Morozova and Nechajew, 1997). Generally, it is assumed that the structures are formed when the average annual air temperature is at or below −6°C, although in fine-grained sediments (silt), ice-wedge casts may form also in a less severe climate when the average annual temperature is − 2°C (Péwé, 1962;Romanovskij, 1973;Washburn, 1973;Burn, 1990).…”

“…This period is correlated with the Eemian interglacial during which forest soils (Luvisol, lessivè), common in Europe from the Atlantic Ocean to Central Russia, had formed on the loess bed (e.g. Bogutsky, 1986;Morozova and Nechajew, 1997;Vandenberghe et al, 1998;Haesaerts and Mestdagh, 2000;Guiter et al, 2003;Bogutsky and Łanczont, 2007). The soil has been also documented for the Miechów loess lobe by numerous researchers (e.g.…”

“…Both types of structures occur at similar positions in numerous profiles across the uplands of southern Poland (Jersak, 1973;Maruszczak, 1986;Waga, 1987;Jersak et al, 1992;Jary, 2009;Jary and Ciszek, 2013). Soil wedges are commonly found at the same positions in Ukraine and Russia -Torchin cryogenic stage phase "a" -Bogutsky (1986); Smoleńsk cryogenic stage phase "a" - Morozova and Nechajew, 1997. Structures resulting from drying (desiccation cracks) (Grande Pile, Les Echets and Velay) were the most common in Western Europe during the Early Weichselian (Early Vistulian) (Herning/Melisey I stadial) (e.g.…”