Last glacial loess dynamics in the Southern Caucasus (NE-Armenia) and the phenomenon of missing loess deposition during MIS-2

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Daniel Wolf - , Institut für Geographie, Technische Universität Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Johanna Lomax - , Justus Liebig University Giessen (Autor:in)
  • Lilit Sahakyan - , National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (Autor:in)
  • Hayk Hovakimyan - , National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (Autor:in)
  • Jörn Profe - , Justus Liebig University Giessen (Autor:in)
  • Philipp Schulte - , RWTH Aachen University (Autor:in)
  • Hans von Suchodoletz - , Universität Leipzig (Autor:in)
  • Christiane Richter - , Institut für Geographie, Technische Universität Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Ulrich Hambach - , Universität Bayreuth (Autor:in)
  • Markus Fuchs - , Justus Liebig University Giessen (Autor:in)
  • Dominik Faust - , Technische Universität Dresden (Autor:in)

Abstract

The Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 2 is considered the coldest, driest and stormiest period during the last Glacial-Interglacial cycle in large parts of Eurasia. This resulted from strongly decreased northern hemisphere temperature and related maximum extension of northern ice sheets that strongly reinforced large-scale circulation modes such as westerlies and East Asian Winter Monsoon driven by the Siberian High. Normally, this intensified circulation is reflected by maximum loess deposition in numerous loess regions spanning Europe and Asia. However, here we present a new loess record from the Caucasus region in NE-Armenia providing evidence in support of heavily reduced or even lacking loess formation during the MIS-2. Owing to implementations of comprehensible luminescence dating work and a provenance survey using rock magnetic and geochemical data, we are able to define distinct loess formation phases and to retrace sediment transport pathways. By comparing our results to other Eurasian palaeo-records, we unveil general atmospheric circulation modes that are most likely responsible for loess formation in the Southern Caucasus. Moreover, we try to test different scenarios to explain lacking loess formation during MIS-2. In line with other archive information, we suggest that loess formation was hampered by higher regional moisture conditions caused by a southward-shift of westerlies and renewed moisture absorption over the Black Sea. Our results show that modifications of MIS-2 circulation modes induced a very heterogeneous moisture distribution, particularly in the lower mid-latitudes of Eurasia producing a juxtaposition of very dry (morphodynamically active) and moderately dry (morphodynamically stable) areas.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer13269
Seitenumfang16
FachzeitschriftScientific reports
Jahrgang12
Ausgabenummer1
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Dez. 2022
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

PubMed 35918443
ORCID /0000-0003-2365-2899/work/142233346
ORCID /0000-0002-0772-2984/work/142255911

Schlagworte

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

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