Late Pleistocene loess-palaeosol sequences in the Vojvodina region, north Serbia

Abstract

Late Pleistocene loess-palaeosol sequences are widespread in the Vojvodina region, with thicknesses reaching a maximum of about 20m. Our investigations include more than 40 of these loess sections. Geochronology of the last glacial loess-palaeosol sequences, based on luminescence dating and amino acid racemisation, provides correlations between Upper Pleistocene loess-palaeosol sediments in Vojvodina and comparable deposits at other European localities. Sedimentary logs of magnetic susceptibility, grain-size measurements and carbonate content, combined with malacological evidence, indicate two main relatively cold and arid phases during the last glacial period, related to intensive accumulation of loess units L1 L1 and L1 L2, as well as many brief episodes of dry and windy climatic conditions, suggesting a possible relationship with cold events recorded in the North Atlantic region. Generally, late Pleistocene climate in the region was dry and relatively warm, compared with glacial period sites in central Europe, and was characterised by sharp differences between glacial and interglacial modes. New data and interpretations presented in this study emphasise the significance of loess-palaeosol sequences in Vojvodina for the reconstruction of the temporal and spatial evolution of late Pleistocene palaeoclimate in this part of Europe. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.