Loess in Armenia

最近的黄土研究意味着，我们有一个更好的了解的因素，确定黄土（灰尘）的积累和土壤形成的方式已经响应了快速和多变的晚第四纪气候变化在欧洲和西亚。然而，黑海和里海之间的区域缺乏证据，这意味着在地理分布方面存在重大差距，因此我们有能力适当审查空间分布和相关的气候反应，作为控制灰尘通量和土壤发育的过程。最近在亚美尼亚发现了黄土-古土壤序列，初步调查产生了适当的数据，这意味着现在有可能试图解决这个问题。该项目旨在表征、绘制、分析和确定德累斯顿研究小组确定的亚美尼亚东北部的序列。这些亚美尼亚黄土-古土壤序列已被证明是特别有益的，因为它们的厚度（高达45米）和诊断火山灰层的存在。初步结果表明，至少有三个，访问和发育良好的pedocomplex全新世土壤以下。该项目旨在为亚美尼亚东北部以及小高加索地区制定一个标准剖面。这一目标需要对更多的剖面进行额外的调查，以确保地层学的可靠性，并根据发光技术和古地磁学制定严格的测年方案。我们非常清楚的地形和成壤因素，确定灰尘积累和土壤发育占黄土厚度的变化和发展的粘土棕色土壤复合体和腐殖，以及聚合黑钙土。此外，我们将使用环境磁性来了解土壤发育，矿物学来限制种源和风化潜力，陆生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.