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

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Daniel Wolf - , Institute of Geography, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Johanna Lomax - , Justus Liebig University Giessen (Author)
  • Lilit Sahakyan - , National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (Author)
  • Hayk Hovakimyan - , National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (Author)
  • Jörn Profe - , Justus Liebig University Giessen (Author)
  • Philipp Schulte - , RWTH Aachen University (Author)
  • Hans von Suchodoletz - , Leipzig University (Author)
  • Christiane Richter - , Institute of Geography, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Ulrich Hambach - , University of Bayreuth (Author)
  • Markus Fuchs - , Justus Liebig University Giessen (Author)
  • Dominik Faust - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)

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

Original languageEnglish
Article number13269
Number of pages16
JournalScientific reports
Volume12
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

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

Keywords