Geomorphological significance of paleosol analysis; a case study of a drift sand section with podzols on the ice-pushed ridge West of Uelsen, W. Germany

Abstract

Geomorphologists have shown an increasing interest in soils. This also applies to paleosols, which provide information on past environments in terms of their age, landscape development and geomorphic processes. The nature of these aspects of paleopedology is demonstrated with the analysis of a sequence of buried podzols in drift sand overlying a truncated periglacial soil on the ice-pushed ridge of Uelsen, W. Germany. Evidence for the reconstruction of the geomorphic history of this area is derived from grain size, heavy mineral and pollen analyses. The sequence of buried soils reflects the same climatic periodicity as was observed in peat of Atlantic/Subboreal age found in the Wilsumer Moor, 4 km to the NE; dry phases with eolian activity were followed by humid phases with soil formation and splash erosion. The present surface is formed by an exhumed podzol of Atlantic/Subboreal age.