Earth’s Cryosphere, 2012, Vol. XVI, No. 4, p. 45-56

PALEOCRYOGENIC EVENTS IN PERIGLACIAL AREA OF THE CENTRAL RUSSIAN UPLAND AT THE END OF THE MIDDLE AND LATE PLEISTOCENE

S.A. Sycheva

Institute of Geography, RAS, 119017, Moscow, Staromonetniy per., 29, Russia; sychevasa@mail.ru

The article is devoted to the results of study of the morphology, stratigraphic position and genesis of the cryogenic phenomena at the end of the Middle and Late Pleistocene in the periglacial zone of East-European Plain. The features related to the continuous and discontinuous permafrost and deep seasonal freezing are described, and the relationships between the paleocryogenic features and paleosols are demonstrated. Seven cryogenic horizons have been identified: Moscow, Seim, Mlodat’, Selikhovodvor, Tuskar’, Vladimir and Yaroslavl’. They are of stratigraphic importance and reflect the coldest phases of the climatic rhythms of the Middle and Late Pleistocene.

Key words: Late Pleistocene, permafrost, paleosoil, pedosediment, change of climate, cryohorizon.

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