Loess in Armenia

最近的黄土研究意味着，我们对决定黄土(粉尘)积累和土壤形成的因素有了更好的了解，这些因素决定了欧洲和西亚晚第四纪快速多变的气候变化。然而，从黑海和里海之间区域缺乏证据意味着，地理分布中存在一个关键差距，因此我们有能力将适当的空间分布和相关的气候反应作为控制灰尘通量和土壤发展的过程进行检查。最近在亚美尼亚发现的黄土-古土壤序列，以及初步调查产生了适当的数据，意味着现在有可能试图解决这个问题。该项目旨在对德累斯顿研究小组确定的亚美尼亚东北部的序列进行特征、测绘、分析和年代测定。这些亚美尼亚黄土-古土壤序列已被证明是特别有价值的，因为它们的厚度(达45米)和诊断盖层的存在。初步结果表明，在全新世土壤之下，至少有三个可接近和发育良好的泥炭杂岩。该项目力求为亚美尼亚东北部，从而为小高加索地区制定一个标准概况。为了实现这一目标，需要对更多的剖面进行更多的调查，以确保坚固的地层学，并根据发光技术和古地磁制定严格的测年方案。我们非常清楚决定粉尘堆积和土壤发育的地形和土壤成因因素，这些因素解释了黄土厚度的变化以及粘质棕壤复合体和腐殖质良好聚集的黑钙土的发育。此外，我们还将使用环境磁学来了解土壤发育，使用矿物学来约束种源和风化潜力，并使用陆地软体动物和生物标志物来评估不同的植被形成。

Recent loess research means that we have a much better understanding of the factors that determine the ways that loess (dust) accumulation and soil formation has responded to the rapid and variable Late Quaternary climatic changes across Europe and western Asia. However the absence of evidence from the region between the Black Sea and Caspian Seas means that a critical gap exists within the geographical distribution and hence our ability to examine properly spatial distribution and associated climatic response as processes that control dust flux and soil development. The recent discovery of loess-palaeosol sequences in Armenia, and preliminary investigations yielding appropriate data, means that it is now possible to attempt to solve this problem. This project aims to characterize, map, analyze and date sequences from NE Armenia identified by the Dresden research group. These Armenian loess-palaeosol sequences have proved to be especially rewarding because of their thickness (up to 45 m) and the presence of diagnostic tephra layers. Preliminary results indicate at least three, accessible and well-developed pedocomplexes below the Holocene soil. The project seeks to derive a standard profile for NE Armenia and thus for the Lesser Caucasus. This objective requires additional surveys of further profiles in order to ensure a robust stratigraphy, and a rigorous dating programme based on luminescence technology and palaeomagnetism. We are critically aware of the topographic and pedogenic factors that determine dust accumulation and soil development accounting for variations in loess thickness and the development of clayey brown soil complexes and humic, well aggregated chernozems. In addition we will use environmental magnetism to understand soil development, mineralogy to constrain provenance and weathering-potential, and terrestrial Mollusca and biomarkers to evaluate different vegetation formations.