What do dust sinks tell us about their sources and past environmental dynamics? A case study for oxygen isotope stages 3–2 in the Middle Rhine Valley, Germany

A novel study reveals significant shifts in dust provenance and atmospheric circulation patterns during the Upper Pleistocene in the Middle Rhine Valley, Germany. By integrating sedimentological, rock magnetic, and geochemical data with Sr and Nd isotope analysis, researchers identified distinct changes in environmental conditions between late oxygen isotope stage 3 (OIS 3) and the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The study highlights a clear negative correlation between grain size and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) within interstadials, suggesting continuous dust accumulation during pedogenic phases. Additionally, shifts in proxy data and isotope composition indicate increased landscape instability and enhanced wind activity towards the end of OIS 3. This comprehensive approach provides new insights into the dynamics of loess–palaeosol sequences (LPSs) and their response to Quaternary climate changes.

Vinnepand, M., Fischer, P., Hambach, U., Jöris, O., Craig, C.-A., Zeeden, C., Thornton, B., Tütken, T., Prud’homme, C., Schulte, P., Moine, O., Fitzsimmons, K. E., Laag, C., Lehmkuhl, F., Schirmer, W., & Vött, A. (2023). What do dust sinks tell us about their sources and past environmental dynamics? A case study for oxygen isotope stages 3–2 in the Middle Rhine Valley, Germany. E&G Quaternary Science Journal, 72(2), 163–184. https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-72-163-2023