The relation beetween the time scale of the Quaternary surface processes and oxygen isotope stratigraphy — according to the loess-palaeosoil sequences and river terraces in Hungary

Abstract

Diverse analyses and results gained from studying ocean-floor and ice core samples brought
revolutionary methodical and theoretical changes in Quaternary science during the 70's. This renewal
highlighted important, new information about the Pleistocene's climatic changes when compared to
Milankovic's climatic curve. Hence, it has become clear that the Pleistocene climatic history, indeed, was
punctuated by surprisingly frequent, intense and high-amplitude climatic fluctuations, which occurred
only over a relatively short period of time. Therefore, our previous knowledge of Pleistocene chronology
has become obsolete. Currently, Pleistocene climate controlled phenomena are being adjusted to the
smaller scale periodicity fluctuations of Oxygen Isotope Stages (OIS). Scientists are doing this in an
attempt to correlate events, sediments and other formations that are far from each other both in time and
space. For the discipline of Geomorphology it would be important to adjust models of surface evolution
— e.g. the evolution of terraces and loess formations separated by fossil soils, etc. — according to the
numbers and lengths of recently confirmed episodes of climate change. In this case, it is not the
alternating glacial-stadial and interstadial phases that are important but the rapid and frequent climatic
fluctuations indicated and proved by analyses of ocean-floor and ice core samples. This study aims to
review the formation of loess sequences with palaeosoils, the causes of river terrace evolution (as well as
its chronology) and the alternating mechanism that occurred during formation periods, called
termination. Based on data collected and published during decades of loess and terrace research