Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 16
Loess Records
Daniel R. Muhs, Stephen R. Cattle, Onn Crouvi, Denis-Didier Rousseau,
Jimin Sun, and Marcelo A. Zárate
Abstract Loess is aeolian sediment, dominated by silt-sized particles, that is
identifiable in the field as a distinct sedimentary body. It covers a significant portion
of the land surface of the Earth and as such constitutes one of the most important
archives of long-term dust deposition. Large tracts of loess cover Europe, Asia,
South America, and North America, and smaller loess bodies are found covering
parts of Africa, the Middle East, New Zealand, and Australia. Loess thickness,
particle size, and carbonate content decrease downwind from sources, trends that
are powerful tools for reconstructing paleowinds. Many loess sections consist of
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