A landscape reconstruction methodology for the last and present interglacials applied to forecasting environmental change
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The new concept for the comprehensive study of environmental changes during the last and the present interglacial is proposed. It is based on a high-resolution study of subaerial interglacial deposits in relief depressions, where the most complete stratigraphic sections, representing zonal landscape types, are located. Monogenetic soils, formed by one pedogenic process and comprising one pollen assemblage, reflect here an interglacial succession. Catenary studies in 2D and 3D profiles are proposed as an approach to clarify a continuous (or semicontinuous) pedosedimentary record. The methods employed are pedostratigraphy, pedology (including micromorphology), pollen, and geomorphology, followed by ‘absolute’ and archaeological dating. High-density sampling is performed in parallel for all types of lab studies. Identification of primary and secondary pedogenic processes, based on the application of palynology and micromorphology to palaeosols, is substantiated. To effectively apply palaeoanalogy, sections of the last and present interglacials are chosen in the same topographical position at closely located loci. Particulars of interpretation of pedological and pollen proxies for palaeolandscape reconstructions are explained. The graphic model for comparison of landscape successions in different regions, and between the last and present interglacials, is elaborated. Interregional correlation demonstrates a great similarity in duration and trends between the phases of the two interglacials. This indicates the detection of the global climatic signal and shows stability of regional landscapes during global change. If short-term phases within the two interglacials are well correlated, a regular pattern in their environmental dynamics will be established, and the position of the present time can be fixed within an interglacial succession. By extrapolating the regular changes of the last interglacial into the future, a forecast of future change under natural factors can be made.
DOI: 10.15421/112508
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Climate action, Life on land
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4408960721