Loess records
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
Loess is aeolian sediment, dominated by silt-sized particles, that is identifiable in the field as a distinct sedimentary body. It covers a significant portion of the land surface of the Earth and as such constitutes one of the most important archives of long-term dust deposition. Large tracts of loess cover Europe, Asia, South America, and North America, and smaller loess bodies are found covering parts of Africa, the Middle East, New Zealand, and Australia. Loess thickness, particle size, and carbonate content decrease downwind from sources, trends that are powerful tools for reconstructing paleowinds. Many loess sections consist of relatively thick deposits of mostly unaltered sediment with intercalated paleosols. Paleosols represent periods of landscape stability when loess deposition ceased or at least slowed significantly. Studies from several continents show that loess in most regions was deposited during glacial periods and paleosols formed during interglacial and interstadial periods.
Suggested Citation
Muhs, D.R., Cattle, S.R., Crouvi, O., Rousseau, D., Sun, J., and Zarate, M.A., 2014, Loess records, chap. of Mineral dist: a key player in the Earth system, p. 411-441, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8978-3_16.
| Publication type | Book chapter |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Book Chapter |
| Title | Loess records |
| ISBN | 978-94-017-8978-3 |
| DOI | 10.1007/978-94-017-8978-3_16 |
| Publication Date | June 28, 2014 |
| Year Published | 2014 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Springer |
| Contributing office(s) | Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center |
| Description | 31 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Book |
| Larger Work Subtype | Other Government Series |
| Larger Work Title | Mineral dist: a key player in the Earth system |
| First page | 411 |
| Last page | 441 |