Landscape and climate change in the northern mongolian plateau during the late glacial and holocene (based on the shaamar loess-soil section)

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Abstract

The paper presents the results of paleosol and paleogeographic studies of the Shaamar loess-soil section located in the Northern Mongolian Plateau. The main periods of eolian sedimentation and soil formation in the Late Glacial and Holocene are reconstructed. Based on radiocarbon data, it was indicated the longest period of soil formation that took place during the Bølling/Allered interstadial (~15.000–~12.500 years ago). For this time, the most favorable conditions for the chernozem soil formation with the dominance of open steppe landscapes and an arid climatic situation have been reconstructed. The next soil formation period corresponds to the Boreal phase of the early Holocene (~9.500 years ago). At this time, forest-steppe soils were formed, in which signs of textural differentiation and waterlogging processes were revealed. According to the pollen analysis, in addition to grasses, pine and birch pollen is recorded in noticeable quantities. In the Middle Holocene (~8500–~3500 years ago), an increase in aeolian activity is recorded against the background of climate aridization and cooling. At the same time, according to micromorphological data, short-term periods of waterlogging are recorded in both pedosediments and aeolian deposits, which was most likely a result of seasonal permafrost melting. In the late Holocene (the last ~3500 years ago), according to palynological data, a noticeable climate humidification is noted, which led to an expansion of the range of forest vegetation. Pine forests were widely represented in the territory. The data obtained allow a more accurate determination of the age of the main stages of soil formation, which significantly improves the understanding of the patterns of climate change in the north of the Mongolian Plateau at the end of the Last Glaciation and the Holocene.

About the authors

S. N. Timireva

Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: jukon02@mail.ru
Moscow, Russia

O. S. Khokhlova

Institute of Physical-Chemical and Biological Problems of Soil Science of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia

S. A. Sycheva

Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Moscow, Russia

O. Batkhishig

Institute of Geography and Geoecology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

A. N. Simakova

Geological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Moscow, Russia

P. I. Kalinin

Institute of Physical-Chemical and Biological Problems of Soil Science of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia

T. Bolormaa

Institute of Geography and Geoecology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

G. Byambaa

Institute of Geography and Geoecology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Y. M. Kononov

Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Moscow, Russia

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