Rock magnetic estimation of past precipitation from topsoil calibration - recent studies in Europe and India

Add to your list(s) Download to your calendar using vCal

• Christian Zeeden, Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics
• Wednesday 18 June 2025, 17:30-19:00
• Latimer Room, Clare College.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact wb350.

Several rock magnetic parameters have been demonstrated to be related to climate. The concept behind magnetic enhancement is that during soil formation, specific iron minerals are formed depending on soil properties, which depend on amongst others precipitation and temperature. In the mid-latitudes, mainly magnetite and maghemite are formed, and these minerals represent a proxy for ‘soil formation intensity’ in some regions, which is driven by i.a. precipitation. While most studies focus on Eurasian Chernozems due to their rather simple stratigraphy and formation processes, other soil types such as luvisols also show elevated magnetic properties in topsoils in relation to climate.

In this presentation, I will provide a short overview of the concept of using magnetic proxies for (paleo)climate studies. Further, first data from ongoing studies in Europe and India will be presented and discussed in a climate perspective. At this point magnetic properties of last interglacial soils appear clearly stronger than Holocene soil properties, suggesting a wetter than recent last interglacial.

This talk is part of the Quaternary Discussion Group (QDG) series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• AUB_Cambridge Seminars
• Climate Science Seminars within Cambridge
• Department of Earth Sciences seminars
• Department of Geography
• Latimer Room, Clare College
• Quaternary Discussion Group (QDG)
• Type the title of a new list here
• ld636
• seminars

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.