Reevaluation of Late Pleistocene loess profiles at Remizovka (Kazakhstan) indicates the significance of topography in evaluating terrestrial paleoclimate records

Abstract

We report on a loess-paleosol sequence (LPS) near Remizovka, located in the northern Tian Shan piedmont of southeastern Kazakhstan. This site represents a key record for Late Pleistocene climatic fluctuations at the intersection of major northern hemisphere climate subsystems. This paper develops a synthesized dataset of previous conflicting studies at Remizovka by characterizing their (paleo)topographic context, which had remained previously overlooked. Digital elevation models, satellite images, and archival photography characterize recent topographic developments. Two well-developed pedocomplexes, which we investigate in detail and date by luminescence mark the paleotopography during Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage (MIS) 5. Peak dust accumulation rates here occurred during the middle MIS 5 and MIS 4/early MIS 3. These are partially comparable with records from neighboring regions, but not in phase with global ice volume records. This discrepancy may be related to a distinct regional environmental response to larger-scale climatic drivers and local topographic influences on dust deposition patterns. Our findings confirm the potential of the LPS Remizovka to provide high-resolution paleoclimate data for the Late Pleistocene. The three-dimensional stratigraphic reconstruction reinforces the caution required to correctly interpret loess formation processes prior to their interpretation as paleoclimate archives, and provides guidelines for a more suitable approach.

In search of a Paleolithic Silk Road in Kazakhstan

“…Loess cover in Kazakhstan is different from that of other regions in arid central Asia (see Figure 6), especially that encountered in China (Fitzsimmons et al, 2018;Sprafke et al, 2018). Unlike on the Chinese loess plateau (and also in Tajikistan), the thickness of the strata is influenced by the underlying topography (Sprafke et al, 2018) so that it is difficult to target a particular time period by field-walking near predetermined strata (e.g., see paleosols, see Zhu et al, 2018).…”

“…Alternating loess-paleosol (LP) sequences showcase climatic changes from relatively dry and cold periods (represented by the loess) and relatively humid and warm periods (represented by soil formation). Recent research in Kazakhstan has shown that this information can be combined with that drawn from human occupations to create a relatively nuanced picture of human-environment interactions (Machalett et al, 2008;Feng et al, 2011;Fitzsimmons et al, 2017;Sprafke et al, 2018). Moreover, sites appear to often be located in similar landscape locations, often at the beginning of alluvial fans created by intramontane rivers.…”

Using archaeological data and sediment parameters to review the formation of the Gravettian layers at Krems‐Wachtberg

“…Previous quantitative approaches to local stratigraphy include magnetic susceptibility in a high resolution (Hambach, 2010) and a characterisation of GH5 to GH28 by horizon‐wise description, geochemistry and grain‐size data (Terhorst et al ., 2014). Here, we aim to compare sediment columns from different areas of the excavated area surrounding the preserved occupation layer AH4.4/4.3, in order to improve our 3D understanding of sedimentary processes caused by potential palaeotopographic influences (Sprafke et al ., 2018). Grain size and colour are the basic parameters of loess–palaeosol sequences (LPS) that allow robust stratigraphic subdivisions and the reconstruction of LPS‐forming processes.…”

Atmospheric Dust Variations in the Ili Basin, Northwest China, During the Last Glacial Period as Revealed by a High Mountain Loess‐Paleosol Sequence

“…The accumulation and preservation of deposited dust are highly dependent on local landforms (Nottebaum et al, ; Sprafke et al, ; Stevens & Lu, ). Erosion is often an important factor, so that DMAR (dust mass accumulation rates) <DF (deposition flux); however, loess deposits on escarpments facing the wind direction may experience enhanced dust deposition (Bowen & Lindley, ; Mason et al, ), resulting in DMAR = DF.…”