Paleopedology Newsletter IUSS Commission 1.6 INQUA Focus Group QUASAP Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 1 Issue 28, December 2019 Paleopedology Newsletter is a joint initiative of the IUSS Commission 1.6–Paleopedology and INQUA Focus Group QUASAP International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) Commission 1.6 – Paleopedology Chair: Maria Bronnikova, mbmsh@mail.ru Vice Chair: Elizabeth Solleiro Rebolledo, solleiro@geologia.unam.mx Secretary: Tobias Sprafke, tobias.sprafke@giub.unibe.ch International Union For Quaternary Research (INQUA) International Focus Group QUASAP Leaders: Daniela Sauer, daniela.sauer@geo.uni-goettingen.de Sergey Sedov Dennis Dahms Markus Egli Fabio Scarciglia Pauline Y.D. Da Costa Paleopedology Newsletter is available at the IUSS website: https://www.iuss.org/newsroom/newsletters/paleopedology-newsletters-commission-16/ For submissions, inquiries and comments: newsletter.com1.6@gmail.com @6Commission Editor: Danny Itkin Cover photo: Lake Brownwood Spillway paleo-Vertisol from Lake Brownwood (central Texas, USA). It is Late Carboniferous in age (approximately Moscovian) and is overlain by a marine transgressive limestone. The gley at the top of the profile is the result of marine hydromorphism associated with submergence of the soil during marine flooding. The horizons, from top to bottom, are Bssg, Bkss, and BC. The paleosol has pedogenic slickensides and coarse wedge-shaped peds (hammer is 35 cm long for scale; photo courtesy: Steven Driese). Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 2 Contents Editorial Prologue: Paleopedology in INQUA: History and call for action 4 5-6 Past Conferences & Meetings INQUA 2019 7 IAS 2019 8 Desna 2019 8-9 GSA 2019 10-11 INQUA IFG POCAS 11-12 GAMB19 Targulian 85 anniversary 13 13-14 Upcoming Conferences & Meetings (2020) EGU General Assembly 2020 35th IMS 2020 ISFWP-XIV Eurosoil 2020 15-18 19 19-25 25 16th ICSM 26-27 12th IGSS 27 FLAG 2020 28 INQUA IFG SEQS 2020 28-30 New Publications Gregory J. Retallack 2019 (Soils of the Past) 31 Invited Contributions Steven G. Driese et al. 32-35 David J. Lowe (late Quaternary tephra-derived Ultisol) 36-37 Special Acknowledgments The Last Page Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 38-39 40 3 Editorial Welcome to the December 2019 Issue of Paleopedology Newsletter! This Issue opens with an introduction regarding the new framework of Paleopedology Working Group in INQUA. The section of past conferences reflects how fruitful was 2019. The section of upcoming activities includes a promising program for 2020; EGU (Vienna, Austria), IAS (Prague, Czech Republic), ISFWP-XIV (Altai, Russia), Eurosoil (Geneva, Switzerland), 16th ICSM (Kraków, Poland), 12th IGSS (Morteratsch, Switzerland), FLAG (Moscow, Russia), and INQUA IFG SEQS (Warsaw and Sienna, Poland). As always, the heart of the Newsletter is composed of new publications and invited contributions. Gregory Retallack presents the 3rd Edition of his well-known book Soils of the Past: An Introduction to Paleopedology - certainly a must-have for all pedologists. Next comes two contributions by Steven Driese et al., first regarding Geochemical paleoclimate proxies and pedotransfer functions for paleosols, and the second regards Critical Zone studies of Vertisols (both from the USA). One additional contribution by Steven Driese, this time with Lee Nordt, deals with Paleo-Vertisols in the Phanerozoic record (USA). This contribution by Driese and Nordt is especially exciting since it is dedicated in honour of Lawrence “Larry” P. Wilding (1934-2019). This section ends with a contribution by David Lowe who presents a study of Late Quaternary tephra-derived Ultisol (New Zealand). Hopefully, Lowe’s contribution will motivate others from Oceania (but not just) to follow. I wish to thank all contributors of this Issue for their time and efforts! The next Issue of Paleopedology Newsletter will be published in June 2020. Best wishes, Danny Itkin Editor Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 4 Prologue Paleopedology in INQUA: History and call for action The history of the paleopedological community is highly involved with both the International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA) and the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS). In 1965, a Commission on Paleopedology was established by INQUA (during its 7th Congress at Denver) and eventually co-affiliated to the International Society of Soil Science (ISSS, later IUSS). Since 2004 ‘Commission 1.6 – Paleopedology’ acts in the IUSS, whereas at the same time conditions became more complicated with its role in INQUA. In 2007, INQUA went through a major reorganization. Since then, no permanent subdivisions exists anymore within five INQUA commissions. Consequently, the activity of the Paleopedology group has ceased. However, during the inter-congress period of 2012-2015, an International Focus Group (IFG) “PASTSOILS”1, led by Daniela Sauer, was established within INQUA's Commission on Terrestrial Processes, Deposits, and History (TERPRO). PASTSOILS had two INQUA projects: “RAISIN” (Rates of soil forming processes obtained from soils and paleosols in well-defined settings) and AEOMED (Loess and aeolian additions to current surface soils and paleosols in Mediterranean climate). The Focus Group was meant to exist only for one inter-congress period. Therefore, PASTSOILS and its two projects ended in 2015. Instead, a new Focus Group “QUASAP” (Kinds and rates of soil-forming processes reflected in Quaternary soils and paleosols and their use as paleoenvironmental archives), led by Daniela Sauer, was established for the inter-congress period of 2016-2019. Recently, INQUA regulations have changed again following its 2019 Congress. After long discussions, the board of the IUSS Commission 1.6, together with members of the INQUA TERPRO advisory board and members of the paleosols-related INQUA community, have decided to aim for a more stable framework for Paleopedology within INQUA. The leaders of the IUSS Commission 1.6 Paleopedology Maria Bronnikova, Elizabeth Solleiro, and Tobias Sprafke applied for a permanent Paleopedology Working Group (WG) within the INQUA Commission TERPRO, which is essentially co-affiliated to the IUSS Commission 1.6 Paleopedology. This WG is not funded by INQUA, but it will benefit from involvement in TERPRO activities, especially those which are connected with the new IFG for the intercongress period of 2020-2023. 1 Paleosol and soil analysis for assessing climate, time and duration of land surface stability of Quaternary terrestrial systems. Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 5 We thank Alessandro Fontana (University of Padova, Italy), Daniela Sauer (University of Göttingen, Germany), Onn Crouvi (Geological Survey of Israel, Jerusalem), Rajiv Sinha (Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur) for the initiative to apply for the IFG HYPEDAE: PalaeoHYdrological, -PEDological and -AEolian processes shaping Quaternary landscape. These two collaborative applications were prepared and submitted to the TERPRO administration in October 2019. 31 January 2020, is the deadline for submission, by which time the final proposals should be submitted to the TERPRO Commission and the INQUA Secretary-General. One key issue regarding INQUA activities applications is that we must present a ‘Confirmed international participation’ form. In October, we were already circulating this call and collected about 40 members. Still, surely there are more of us who are interested in a strong position of paleopedology in INQUA. Therefore, we kindly ask you to confirm your participation in the new Paleopedology Working Group (WG) and/or the new IFG HYPEDAE (FG) by filling the following document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Yk4Fj_hsA5SV8R_0nJEsDK1PNg0Icn8Ge5DudxKSMc/edit We appreciate your help, thank you for your collaboration! Maria Bronnikova, Elizabeth Solleiro, Daniela Sauer, Tobias Sprafke, and Alexander Makeev IUSS Commission 1.6 – Paleopedology INQUA International Focus Group QUASAP Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 6 Past Conferences & Meetings 20th Congress of the International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA), Dublin, Ireland; 25-31 July 2019 The following are all INQUA2019 titles that included the word ‘paleosol(s)’ ‣ Buried late Pleistocene paleosols in the context of the Quaternary landscape evolution of NorthWestern Siberia. Sedov S., et al. ‣ Colorimetric variations of loess-paleosol sequences in SW Poland. Marcin Krawczyk, Sprafke T., et al. ‣ Correlation of the loess-paleosol bassets in a short distance: reconstruction of the 350 ka development of Basaharc section, Hungary. Erzsébet H., et al. ‣ Disentangling the effect of thermal and microbial degradation on the distribution pattern of paleosol derived n-alkanes: Implications for paleo-fire reconstruction. Sarangi V., et al. ‣ Dust from the Sahara and Sahel to the Atlantic: Evidence from the mineralogy and geochemistry of paleosols, Canary Islands, Spain. Muhs, D.R., et al. ‣ Geochronology and paleosols study of the lower terraces in the Middle Tagus River (Toledo, Central Spain): paleoclimatic implications. Roquero E., et al. ‣ High-resolution luminescence chronology for the coastal loess-paleosol sequences in the Jiaodong Peninsula and Miaodao Archipelago, Eastern China. Yi S., et al. ‣ Luminescence chronology of environmental evolution of the Ob Plateau loess-paleosol sequence in the Late Quaternary. Volvakh N., et al. ‣ Modelling of interglacial paleosol development in the Chinese Loess Plateau. Nirmani K., et al. ‣ Multiproxy reconstruction of Pleistocene paleoclimatic/paleoenvironmental changes in the Aalat pedostratigraphic succession (Eritrea). A focus on paleosols and stable isotopes. Scarciglia F., et al. ‣ Multi-scale microstructure and mineral grain size distribution of paleosol S0,S1 and loess L1 on Luochuan, China. Li X., et al. ‣ Paleoclimate change record in the Dejvice loess-paleosol sequence (Prague, Czech Republic). Flašarová K., et al. ‣ Paleoclimate implications from grain-size analysis of loess/paleosol sequences from the Carpathian Basin. Novothny A., et al. ‣ Paleosols in Cover Sediments on Pleistocene Terraces of the Mosel River. Kühn P., et al. ‣ Superposition of paleosol horizons in the last 350 ka: a case study from the Hévízgyörk loesspaleosol sequence (Hungary). Csonka D., et al. ‣ Why are soils in Loess-Paleosol-Sequences in Southern Tunisia sandy? Faust D., et al. Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 7 34th International Meeting of Sedimentology (IAS), Rome, Italy; 10-13 September 2019 The IAS Meeting of Sedimentology, of the International Association of Sedimentologists (IMS), gathers over 1,000 participants to discuss and share the most recent advances in sedimentology. This time the programme included a session on paleosols, which turned out to as a big success. As a result, the next IAS meeting (Prague 2020) will include a session with a very similar name; Theme T01 - Continental environments and depositional systems, and Special Sessions: T01-SS01 - Paleosols: A treasure chest to understand the paleoenvironmental and sedimentary processes in continental realm. The 2019 meeting included session 5.B Paleosols: A treasure chest to understand the sedimentary processes in continental realm, chaired by Giorgio Basilici, Marco Benvenuti, Isabelle Cojan, Stefano Carnicelli, Maria Sol Raigemborn, Augusto Varela, and Andre Marconato. The paleosol session was extremely interesting, very much due to the fact that the host event hardly relates to pedology. The presented studies were highly professional, with each researcher giving his/hers personal interpretation on paleosols, accompanied by unusual approaches and technics of examining them. Most presented works were related to preQuarternary soils, while in our (Commission 1.6 - Paleopedology) paleosols meetings, preQuaternary paleopedology is still scarce. Thus, we brought from this meeting a fresh view, inspirational research experience and new ideas. Maria Bronnikova Desna 2019 Report: Cultural geography of the Paleolithic of the East European Plain: from the Micoquian to the Epigravettian, Bryansk Oblast, Russia; 10-16 September 2019 Collaboration with archaeologists provides one of the most fruitful and exciting fields of research for paleopedologists. Within the archaeological community, colleagues who work on paleolithic cultures usually show much interest in geoscientific research, and particularly in pedo-archaeology. This interest was clearly demonstrated at the regional archaeological Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 8 conference “Cultural geography of the Paleolithic of the East European Plain: from the Micoquian to the Epigravettian”, organized in the Bryansk Oblast of Russia by the key Russian archaeological institutions together with the regional Government, University and Museum. Besides the Russian research groups, specialists from Poland, Germany, Czech republic and Rumania have participated in that conference. The scientific sessions took place at the Bryansk State University. Additionally to numerous talks on archaeological topics, these sessions have included a set of contributions regarding paleoenvironmental, geomorphological and geochronological aspects of middle to late Paleolithic occupations. 3 papers were dedicated to the Late Pleistocene paleosols associated with the Paleolithic findings in Kostenki, Zaraysk and near Moscow. The most impressive part of the event was the scientific excursions to the famous archaeological sites of the Desna River Basin: Khotylevo I and Betovo for the middle Paleolithic and Khotylevo II and Yudinovo for the upper Paleolithic. In the large and beautifully prepared profiles, it was demonstrated that most of the major cultural layers are closely related with Late Pleistocene Paleosol levels. A multidisciplinary geoscientific research is being conducted at each site, enabling to correlate paleopedological results with other (sedimentary, paleontological, palynological etc.) records, and detailed chronology. Undoubtedly, the Paleolithic archaeological sites provide one of the best ‘laboratories’ in which paleopedologists, together with other specialists, could work on the integral paleoenvironmental reconstructions which shed light on the earliest stages of human-landscape interaction. Further information: https://www.archaeolog.ru/media/2019/ konferencii_2019/gavrilov_mikok/Gavrilov_Tezis_2019.pdf Sergey Sedov Left: Profile of the middle Paleolithic site Khotylevo I; Right: Discussing with Dr. G.A. Khlopachov in the excavation of the Yudinovo Upper Paleolithic site (photos courtesy: Sergey Sedov) Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 9 GSA 2019 Annual Meeting. Phoenix, Arizona; 22-25 September 2019 The following are all GSA2019 titles under both oral and poster sessions (capitalization follows the original style of program). Soil Forming Processes and Quaternary Landscape History Conveners: J.B.J. Harrison, Eric V. McDonald, and Brad D. Sion. ‣ THE SOIL PRODUCTION FUNCTION AND LANDSCAPE EVOLUTION: A TWENTY-YEAR PERSPECTIVE. Heimsath A.M. ‣ SPATIAL VARIATIONS IN HILLSLOPE MORPHOLOGY RELATE TO LITHOLOGY AND BASE LEVEL. Miller N., et al. ‣ QUANTIFYING SEDIMENT THICKNESS AND PRE- AND POST-SETTLEMENT SEDIMENTATION RATES FOR HIGH PLAINS PLAYA WETLANDS UTILIZING 210PB AND 14C DATING TECHNIQUES. Bowen M.W. ‣ USING NONCONTRIBUTING AREA TO ASSESS LANDFORM DEVELOPMENT IN THE CENTRAL LOWLANDS OF NORTH AMERICA. McDanel J.J. ‣ LUMINESCENCE SIGNALS FROM SOIL AND SAPROLITE IN DEEPLY WEATHERED PROFILESINTRIGUING NEW RESULTS FROM THE PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA. Nelson M.S. ‣ RATES, PROCESSES, AND TIMESCALES OF BASALT WEATHERING IN THE TROPICS. Nelson S.T. ‣ FORMATION OF PEDOGENIC CARBONATE CRUSTS (CALCRETES) IN TROPICAL KARST LANDSCAPES AS ARCHIVES FOR PALEOENVIROMENTAL RECONSTRUCTIONS₋A CASE STUDY FROM YUCATAN PENINSULA, MEXICO. Solleiro-Rebolledo E., et al. ‣ EFFECTS OF REGIONAL CLIMATE DIFFERENCES ON RATES OF SOIL DEVELOPMENT: INSIGHTS FROM WELL-DATED CHRONOSEQUENCES IN THE RIO GRANDE RIFT. Brad D.S., et al. ‣ DUST-DOMINATED CUMULIC ARIDISOL PEDOGENESIS DOMINATED THE PLIOCENE TAOS PLATEAU, NEW MEXICO, USA. Hobbs K.M. ‣ INFLUENCE OF PARENT MATERIAL LITHOLOGY ON DUST ACCUMULATION IN ALLUVIAL FAN SOILS, MOJAVE DESERT CALIFORNIA U.S.A. McDonald E.V., et al. ‣ EVOLUTION OF THE LANDSCAPE AND PEDODIVERSITY ON VOLCANIC DEPOSITS IN THE SOUTH OF THE BASIN OF MEXICO AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES. SolleiroRebolledo E., et al. ‣ CENTRAL CUBAN RIVER WATERS INDICATE HIGH RATES OF CHEMICAL WEATHERING WHEREAS LOW NUTRIENT LOADS REFLECT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. Bierman P., et al. ‣ FIRST DENUDATION RATE ESTIMATES FOR RIVER BASINS IN CENTRAL CUBA FROM GEOCHEMICAL, COSMOGENIC ISOTOPE, AND SEDIMENT YIELD DATA. Campbell M.K., et al. ‣ BETTER UNDERSTANDING THE GEOLOGY OF CENTRAL CUBA THROUGH STREAM SEDIMENT COMPOSITION ANALYSIS USING X-RAY DIFFRACTION. Williamson L., et al. Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 10 ‣ QUANTIFYING THE EFFECTS OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN 26 CENTRAL CUBAN RIVERS USING SHORT-LIVED FALLOUT RADIONUCLIDES IN DETRITAL RIVER SEDIMENT. Monica D., et al. ‣ USING FALLOUT RADIONUCLIDES TO IDENTIFY THE EROSIONAL IMPACT OF LAND USE IN SOUTHWESTERN CHINA. Monyak P.N., et al. ‣ HURRICANES ALTER SHORT-TERM CONCENTRATION OF DETRITAL 10BE,210PBEX, 137CS, AND 7BE, BUT DO NOT CHANGE LONG-TERM EROSION RATE ESTIMATES. Amber E, et al. ‣ PEDOGENIC RECORD OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE IN THE UPPER SAN PEDRO RIVER BASIN. Rasmussen C. ‣ INVESTIGATING PALAEOMEGAFLOOD SEDIMENTATION INFLUENCES ON VINEYARD SOILS IN SUNNYSLOPE, ID, SNAKE RIVER VALLEY. Haggen R. INQUA, IFG Ponto-Caspian Stratigraphy and Geochronology (POCAS) meeting, Tehran, Iran; 11-18 October 2019 The 3rd Plenary Meeting and Field Trip of INQUA IFG 1709F POCAS was held at the Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science, Tehran (INIOAS was the main organizer of the conference). This Project is co-headed by Prof. Valentina Yanko-Hombach (Head of the Department of Physical and Marine Geology, Geological-Geographical Faculty, Head of Interdisciplinary Scientific and Educational Center of Geoarchaeology, Marine and Environmental Geology and President at Avalon Institute of Applied Science), and Prof. Tamara Yanina (Head of the Scientific Laboratory of the Pleistocene Paleogeography, MSU). The theme of the meeting focused on the Quaternary stratigraphy and geochronology of the Ponto-Caspian Region. The conference included 3 main sections with oral and poster presentations: ‣ General questions regarding the Ponto-Caspian Corridor. ‣ Black Sea, Sea of Azov, and Sea of the Marmara Region. ‣ Caspian Sea Region. Most reports were devoted to quaternary geology and geomorphology of the Ponto-Caspian Region, e.g., ‘Late Holocene landscape dynamics in the forest-steppe area of the Russian Plain based soil chronosequence; the Borisovka Scythian settlement’ (Dr. A. Rusakov), ‘Returning to the problem of the Baer knolls origin’ (Dr. E. Badyukova), ‘Studies of contemporary soils and paleosols, e.g., ‘Vertical and spatial differentiation of recent finetextured soils in Caspian Sea coast: Case study from Golestan (Iran) and Dagestan (Russia)’, Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 11 (I. Semenkov), ‘Morphogenetic analysis of buried soils as a proxy for Paleogeographic Reconstruction (loess-paleosol sequence of Srednaya Akhtuba key section, Lower Volga area’ (Dr. M. Lebedeva). Small number of reports dealt with paleontological investigations, e.g., ‘New discoveries of the Lower Paleolithic on the shores of the Early Pleistocene Caspian Sea’ (Dr. A. Zeynalov). The meeting included speakers from 6 countries; Iran, Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Canada. The post-conference tour covered four field trips to different parts of the Guilan province of Iran. During the first trip, participants visited at the Manjl Fault, Shemshak Formation, Rashi cave, Marlik Iron Age Cemetery, Shahran Iron Age Cemetery, and Saravan loess. The second day included visits at the old beach deposits near Rasht, Qale Rudkhan Castle, and Masuleh. Later, participants were taken to the Anzali Lagoon, Anzali Spit, Sefidrud Delta, Kiashahr Lagoons, and the old Sefidrud river. More information is available at http://www.avalon-institute.org/inqua/meeting_past.php Marina Lebedeva and Alexandra Churilina Group photo (photo courtesy: Marina Lebedeva and Alexandra Churilina) Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 12 Reading the book of nature: Soils as records of past and present, GeoArchaeological Meeting, Bruges, Belgium; 7 November 2019 To celebrate the 80th anniversary of Prof. Em. Roger Langohr, a special Geoarchaeological Meeting was organised in the medieval city of Bruges, Belgium. Roger Langohr is an international authority in the field of soil science and most particularly in the field of soil genesis, soil morphology and archaeopedology. At the Ghent University, he established the unit of archaeopedology as part of the international postgraduate programme in Physical Land Resources. His teaching and international research has been inspirational to thousands of students and fellow researchers. Roger Langohr always insists on taking a holistic approach for reading the soil as a book, the “book of nature”. He is always keen on teaching how insights into soil genesis enables to read the soil book for understanding past climatic changes, paleo-environments as well as past and current land-uses. The booklet with the abstracts of the conference is available at http://doi.org/10.5281/ zenodo.3527265 The proceedings of the conference, published as a book, will be available starting from the 1st of March 2020. The link for it will be http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3417724 The individual chapters can already be found at zenodo.org Stefaan Dondeyne 85th anniversary of Victor Targulian: Honorary Session and presentation of a new book, Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; 5 December 2019 Honorary Session of the Scientific Council was held on World Soil Day, 5 December 2019. The Session was devoted to the 85th anniversary of Prof. Em. Viktor Targulian, who is one of the world’s most outstanding pedologists and paleopedologists, first winner of the Dokuchaev Award, and Honorary Member of the International Union of Soil Sciences. Targulian has contributed a lot to the fundamentals of pedogenesis; he developed the general theory of soil system behaviour in time, based on the concept of characteristic time of specific pedogenic processes; described the place and role of the pedosphere among the surface exogenic systems of the Earth and other terrestrial planets; introduced the concept of ‘soil memory’ as a specific type of biosphere-geospheres interactions record. Short presentations were given by Targulian’s followers and friends. These presentations Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 13 were devoted to Targulian’s scientific life and carrier, as well as current developments of his key scientific ideas. A new book of Victor Targulian ‘Theory of pedogenesis and soil change in time’ was presented during the session. The book contains Targulian’s theoretical papers. The concept of exons linking the pedosphere with surface formations of other planets, is emphasised. The specific pedogenic processes, their diversity and mechanisms are explained in the general theory of pedogenesis. Soil change in time is considered both with theoretical and experimental approaches (the later is focused on soils of the humid tropics and subtropics). The concept of ‘soil memory’, includes the types of record, agents, hierarchy and diversity. One more item regards the problem of ‘soils and society’, noting human impacts and soil responses. The book consists of papers in Russian and English. Maria Bronnikova and Sergey Goryachkin Targulian’s book cover (image courtesy: Maria Bronnikova) Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 14 Upcoming Conferences & Meetings (2020) EGU General Assembly 2020, Vienna, Austria, 3-8 May 2020 Dear friends of pedology and palaeopedology, if you are thinking about attending EGU 2020, please have a look at Programme Group SSS3 - Soils as Records in Time and Space: https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2020/provisionalprogramme/ SSS#s35030 Abstract submission will be open until 15 January 2020 There are 5 interesting sessions have been proposed within our Programme Group SSS3: Soil-forming processes from microscopic to landscape scale and the role of dust input on pedogenesis Conveners: Daniela Sauer and Markus Egli Soil formation can be observed at various scales. For instance, at a centimetre scale, soil structure formation creates spatial patterns, which may result in contrasting conditions for weathering, redox processes and microbial activity within a few µm to mm. Soil formation at a horizon to pedon scale is usually characterized by the transition from one soil type to another, as investigated e.g. in soil chronosequences studies. Finally, soil formation at landscape scale involves also lateral processes such as erosion-sedimentation, or transport of solutes that may lead to predominantly depleted upslope soils and predominantly enriched footslope soils. Processes that take place at one scale may with time lead to soil changes at another scale. These concepts are complicated by the fact that many soils do not simply form from local weathering products, but also have some aeolian contribution. This is the case especially for soils in arid and Mediterranean climates, mountain regions, areas of active volcanism, and coastal landscapes. Furthermore, many soils of temperate regions developed from slope deposits enriched in windblown silt. These deposits are usually related to periglacial conditions during the last glacial. In this session, we seek abstracts on 1) aeolian inputs into soils, implications for soil genesis and ecologically relevant soil properties, and 2) soil processes proceeding at different scales and interactions across scales (both spatial and temporal). Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 15 Anthropogenic soils and landforms as legacies of past land use Conveners: Thomas Raab, Patrick Drohan, Florian Hirsch, Anna Schneider Human land occupation and cultivation often results in characteristic modifications of soils and geomorphology. Widespread examples for pedological and geomorphological land use legacies are agricultural terraces, ridge and furrow systems, or relict charcoal hearths. Pedological legacy effects can also occur without a concurrent characteristic modification of the surface morphology, e.g., as colluvial soils, relict ploughing horizons in abandoned agricultural areas, or through legacies of past soil amendment. Anthropogenic soils and landforms provide a valuable archive function for geoarchaeological and paleoenvironmental studies. Their spatial distribution can give insight on past land use systems, and their properties provide an enormous potential for process-related research, e.g., for studying long-term effects of carbon enrichment or depletion. Furthermore, land use legacies also affect current ecosystems, as sites often differ from the surrounding landscape in soil chemistry or soil physical properties and in consequence of these specific ecological conditions, sites can exhibit altered species composition, plant growth or cover. In this session, we would like to gather studies focusing on different types of anthropogenic soils and landforms, working on various scales and in different ecosystems. We invite contributions that approach the ecological, geomorphological, and geoarchaeological significance of land use legacy soils and landforms by: ‣ mapping and analyzing the spatial distribution of anthropogenic relief features and anthropogenically-affected soils, e.g., using digital elevation models, historic maps or field surveys, or remote sensing data; ‣ characterizing the specific properties of anthropogenic soils and sediments, e.g., soil stratigraphy, carbon dynamics, or nutrient availability of land use legacy sites or areas; ‣ reconstructing past land use or paleoenvironments based on the distribution and properties of anthropogenic soils and landforms; ‣ studying the effects of anthropogenic soils on plants and ecosystems, e.g., forest cover composition, plant growth rates, or soil microbial communities, or by evaluating consequences of anthropogenic soil presence or heritage features for land management, e.g. archaeological relevance, heritage value, conservation strategies By bringing together such studies, the session aims at making a step towards assessing the effects of land use legacies on a landscape scale. Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 16 Soil Classification - a tool for understanding soil genesis, soil distribution, soil mapping and for communication Conveners: Tiina Törmänen, David Badía-Villas, Stephan Mantel For the rationalization of research in any natural science, there is no other way than to rely on taxonomy as developed as possible, and so it is with soil science. Moreover to extrapolate results and to publish any research carried out on a soil requires offering the name of that soil, as one more piece of the study area. With the classification of the soil and its spatial distribution, we can eventually gain information on 1) soil genesis and dynamics of the land systems, 2) soil sensitivity and resilience for degradation and other soils threats, 3) the potential and limitations for land use, and 4) in addition climate change. The session is proposed to bring together papers focussing on international soil classification systems. A special focus is given to the third edition (2014) of the international soil classification system World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB). This symposium welcomes papers focussing on soil classification systems such as WRB (3rd ed, 2014) or Soil Taxonomy, either or not linked with national classification approaches. Presenters may show how they use soil classification and soil maps to derive understanding and information. Experiences may be shared on how soil classifications are used and possibly linked to processes of digital soil mapping and novel soil survey techniques such as proximal sensing technologies, and detailed digital elevation models. Recent advances in palaeoenvironmental reconstruction based on palaeosols Conveners: Florian Hirsch, Tobias Sprafke Palaeosols represent valuable records of the local to regional combinations of environmental factors that were present during the time of their formation. Significant progress in deciphering these records has been achieved e.g. through advances in analytical methods, such as in the fields of isotopic techniques, plant-derived biomarkers, geochemical weathering indices, microscopic and sub-microscopic techniques. In this session we particularly welcome contributions on: ‣ the use of palaeosols as records of local to regional present and former environments, ‣ advances in biochemical, geochemical, (sub-)microscopic and other techniques in palaeopedology, ‣ experiments and basic research, aiming at improving the interpretation of palaeoenvironmental data such as biomarker and isotope data, Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 17 ‣ predictions of future soil changes as a result of changes in environmental conditions and/ or land-use, based on observed past soil responses to environmental changes. Geoarchaeological records of human-landscape interaction: from a nature-dominated world to the Anthropocene Conveners: Julia Meister, André Kirchner, Guido Stefano Mariani, Kathleen Nicoll, Hans von Suchodoletz Documenting the diversity of human responses and adaptations to climate, landscapes, ecosystems, natural disasters and the changing natural resources availability in different regions of our planet, cross-disciplinary studies in Geoarchaeology provide valuable opportunities to learn from the past. Furthermore, human activity became a major player of global climatic and environmental change in the course of the late Quaternary, during the Anthropocene. Consequently, we must better understand the archaeological records and landscapes in context of human culture and the hydroclimate-environment nexus at different spatial and temporal scales. This session seeks related interdisciplinary papers and specific geoarchaeological case-studies that deploy various approaches and tools to address the reconstruction of former human-environmental interactions from the Palaeolithic period through the modern. Topics related to records of the Anthropocene from Earth and archaeological science perspectives are welcome. Furthermore, contributions may include (but are not limited to) insights about how people have coped with environmental disasters or abrupt changes in the past; defining sustainability thresholds for farming or resource exploitation; distinguishing the baseline natural and human contributions to environmental changes. Ultimately, we would like to understand how strategies of human resilience and innovation can inform our modern strategies for addressing the challenges of the emerging Anthropocene, a time frame dominated by human modulation of surface geomorphological processes and hydroclimate. There is also a number of interesting sections related to specific paleoenvironmental archives within these programme; group CL5 – Tools for climate studies: Geochronological tools for environmental reconstructions; Co-organized by GM2/SSS3; Convener: Irka Hajdas, Co-conveners: Andreas Lang, Gina E. Moseley, and Arne Ramisch. Guidelines for submissions: https://egu2020.eu/abstracts_and_programme/how_to_submit_an_abstract.html For more information about EGU, please, visit https://www.egu2020.eu/ Abstract submission (deadline: 15 January 2020, 13:00 CET) Daniela Sauer Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 18 35th International Meeting of Sedimentology supported by the International Association of Sedimentologists. Prague, Czech Republic, 23-25 June 2020 This is the main annual event of the IAS. Special session on Paleosols is planed in the framework of theme T01 - Continental environments and depositional systems; and T01SS01 - Palaeosols: A treasure chest to understand the palaeoenvironmental and sedimentary processes in continental realm. Registration is open: https://www.iasprague2020.com/registration/ Deadline for abstract submission is 15 February 2020 XIVth International symposium and field workshop on paleopedology (ISFWPXIV) Paleosols, pedosediments and landscape morphology as archives of environmental changes Russia, Altai, 13-23 August 2020 Organizers: IWG Paleopedology, IFG HYPEDAE: PalaeoHYdrological, -PEDological and AEolian processes shaping Quaternary landscapes (HYPEDAE), Commission Terrestrial Processes, Deposits & History (TERPRO) depending on approval by INQUA in March 2020HONORARY. Chairs: Maria Bronnikova (Institute of Geography RAS, Moscow, Russia; IUSS, Commission 1.6 Paleopedology, INQUA TERPRO IWG Paleopedology leader). Elizabeth Solleiro Rebolledo (National Autonomous University of Mexico - UNAM, Mexico; IUSS, Commission 1.6 Paleopedology, INQUA TERPRO advisory board member, INQUA TERPRO IWG Paleopedology co-leader). Daniela Sauer (Institute of Geography, University of Göttingen; INQUA TERPRO IFG HYPEDAE co-leader). Patronage: Dr. Olga Solomina, corresponding member of Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Geography RAS, Moscow, Russia; Dr., Prof. Alexandr Puzanov, Institute for Water and Environmental Problems SB RAS, Barnaul, Russia. Honorary Patronage: Dr. Olga Solomina (corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Geography RAS, Moscow, Russia). Dr., Prof. Alexandr Puzanov (Institute for Water and Environmental Problems SB RAS, Barnaul, Russia). General information Official language: English. Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 19 Venue: The early career researcher school on paleopedology (14 August), the symposium (15-16 August), and one-day field excursion (17 August) will be held at the Tourist Base Taininskaya Sloboda (http://ta-sloboda.ru/), located 55 kilometers from Gorno-Altaysk, in the picturesque corner of the lowland Altai, on the shore of Lake Kireevo. Pre-Symposium: Before the beginning of the academic sessions of the symposium on 14 August, we invite early career researchers to take part in the lecture school on paleopedology. The one-day school, organized within the XIV ISFWP, continues the tradition of international schools on paleopedology for young scholars, held in Altai for the previous 10 years by Prof. M.I. Dergacheva. Leading specialists in the field of paleopedology will deliver a series of lectures on theoretical and methodological problems of paleopedology. Amongst the guest speakers: Joseph Mason (University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA), Alexander Makeev (Soil Science Faculty, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia), Maria Dergacheva (Institute of Soil Science SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia), Sergey Sedov (National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico), Cezary Kabala (Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland), Daniela Sauer (University of Göttingen, Germany), Elizabeth Solleiro Rebolledo (National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico), Elya Zazovskaya (Institute of Geography, RAS, Moscow, Russia), Marina Lebedeva (Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute, Moscow, Russia). Scientific coverage of academic sessions and field workshop will include soil, geomorphic, sedimentary archives/records/memory of environmental changes; specificity of different types of paleoenvironmental archives and their correlation. Preliminary list of sections (main topics) for the scientific symposium: ‣ Loess-, alluvilal-, colluvial-, tephra-paleosol sequences: case studies, specific features for different types of paleoenvironmental records, correlation between different types of soilsedimentary records, and with other paleoenvironmental archives. ‣ Paleosols and pedosediments of human habitats. ‣ Surface paleosols and relic features in contemporary surface soils. ‣ Pre-Quarternary paleosols: paleoenvironment and diagenesis. The field workshop will take place during 18-23 August, after the early career researcher school, symposium and a one-day tour on 17 August, which are held on the basis of the Taininskisya Sloboda tourist resort. The route of the workshop will cross the Russian part of Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 20 the Altai from north-west to south-east, up to the border with Mongolia (the total length of the route Taininskaya Sloboda - Kosh-Agach - the valley of the Boguty River - Gorno-Altaisk - is about 1400). In addition to Pleistocene and Holocene soil sedimentary sequences and paleogeography of the region with different topography elements, the participants of the field workshop will see the whole variety of picturesque and diverse landscapes of the Altai: from foothill and mountain steppes and mountain taiga to deserted steppes and mountain tundra. Schedule 13 August - Check-in and registration of the early career researcher school participants. 14 August - Early career researcher school on paleopedology; Check-in and registration of participants of the symposium and field workshop 15 August - Opening the symposium, academic session, and icebreaking party 16 August - Academic sessions 17 August - One-day tour; Middle-Late Pleistocene loess-paleosol series: soils complexes from Shadrikha interglacial (MIS-11) to Kargin interstadial (MIS-3) in the quarry near Krasnogorskoye village, low-mountainous North-Eastern Altai, visit to the National Museum of the Republic of Altai; Introductory lecture for the field workshop (August, 18-23) participants; Brief physical and geographical overview (climate, geology, geomorphology, vegetation and soil cover), Quaternary history of the region. 18-23 August - Field workshop; Taininskaya Sloboda - v. Aktash - v. Kosh-Agach - valley of the river Boguty - Gorno-Altaisk. Route of field workshop: 18 August - 8.00-21.00 Transfer from "Taininskaya Sloboda" tourist center to Aktash village (393 km). On the way it is planned: excursion in the GornoAltaisk Botanical Garden "Clean Meadow" (branch of the Central Siberian Botanical Garden of Russian Academy of Sciences) http://g-abs.ru/, stops for observation of contemporary soils, sedimentary sequences and geomorphic features related to the Pleistocene and Holocene history of landscapes; sightseeing, and short photo-stops with pictures views. Overnight stay in Aktash village. 19 August - Holocene soil-sedimentary sequences in the valley of the Chuya river in the high-mountainous south-eastern Altai (between Aktash and Kosh-Agach villages) (sections in "Baratal", "Sukhoy" and "Kuektanar" locations). Ice-dammed lakes paleo-shorelines, sediments of outburst floods, giant gravel dunes (giant current "ripples") in the Kurai and Chuya basin, and Sukor multievent paleoseismic landslide in the Chuya valley. Sliding Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 21 Neogene sediments on the Kurai Ridge. Paleolithic site Bigdon, archeological monuments (mounds, balballs and steles, iron-smelting furnaces) connected with various nomadic cultures. Overnight stay at Kosh-Agach village. 20 August - Chuya intermountain depression: surface polygenetic profiles with records of Holocene environmental history: Skeletic Kastanozem Cambic and Skeletic Cambic Calcisol Yermic; redeposited Neogene strata with signs of Pleistocene and Holocene palaeopedogenesis; the largest landslide triggered by the 2003 Chuya earthquake in the Taldura valley, Pleistocene moraines of Chagan-Uzun glacier, Chagan reference section of Neogene - Eopleistocene lacustrine and alluvial, Pleistocene glacial and glacio-lacustrine deposits. Overnight stay in Kosh-Agach village. 21 August - Landforms and sediments associated with the Holocene debris flow activity. Valley of the Boguty river: high-mountain tundra-steppe landscapes, Late PleistoceneHolocene soil-sedimentary sequence in the small lateral tributary valley, Cryic Histosol of a peat bog on the lake shore. Gala dinner and overnight stay in Kosh-Agach village. 22 August - Returning from Kosh-Agach village to Gorno-Altaisk, overnight stay in GornoAltaisk in Igman Hotel http://igman04.ru/. 23 August - Transfer to the Gorno-Altaisk airport. Registration: Registration of participants and abstract submission will be conducted on the conference website http://www.isfwp.igras.ru/ after 20 December. The registration procedure is also required for participants who have been pre-registered. Please note! The number of participants is restricted, so registration is based on ‘first-come first-served’. Your place will be guaranteed only after fee payment. Registration will be closed once the maximum number of participants is reached. Payment will be open from 1 January to 1 March 2020. Fees: Participation fee (August 14-23) is 950 €. It includes accommodation and three meals a day at the Taininskaya Sloboda tourist centre during 14-18 August; an electronic version of the conference materials and the field guide, a printed version of the field seminar guide and final program; ice-breaking party (15 August), and gala dinner (21 August), an excursion to the National Museum of the Republic of Altai named after Anokhin; transport, accommodation and meals during the field seminar (18-22 August); excursion to the GornoAltaisk Botanical Garden Clean Meadow; transfer from the airport of Gorno-Altaisk to the tourist resort Taininskaya Sloboda (14 August for all and 13 August for speakers and participants of the pre-Symposium paleo-school), and from the hotel Igman in Gorno-Altaisk to the airport of Gorno-Altaisk (23 August). Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 22 Participation in the early career researcher school on paleopedology (14 August) - Early career researcher school on paleopedology is held for students, postgraduates and young scientists. The fee for participation in the school is 50 €. The fee includes attending lectures, accommodation and three meals a day at the Taininskaya Sloboda tourist resort (13-14 August), coffee breaks (14 August). Payment details will be available from 1 January on the conference website: http:// www.isfwp.igras.ru/ Please, make sure that all bank transfer costs are fully covered. Please send an electronic copy of your payment receipt (titled “fee payment”) to the conference email: paleosols2020@gmail.com VISA: Details of visa requirements and support, visa form and borderland admission, are included in the 2nd circular (published) and will be available on the Symposium’s site. Journey plan: Participants and speakers of the early career researcher school should arrive at Gorno-Altaisk airport on the morning of 13 August. Participants of the Symposium and field workshop should arrive at Gorno-Altaisk airport on the morning of 14 August (GornoAltaisk airport is connected with regular flights to Moscow). The school on paleopedology (14 August), the symposium (15-16 August) and the one-day excursion (17 August) will be held at Taininskaya Sloboda. Lectures of the paleo-school will start at 9.00 (14 August), and the symposium (15 August) will also open at 9.00. All participants (both 13 & 14 August) will be transferred from GA airport to Taininskaya Sloboda tourist resort. This transfer will be connected to the arrival of S7 airlines flight (9.10 am, local time) from Moscow. No transfer is available on other days. On the way back (23 August), there will be a transfer from the Igman Hotel in Gorno-Altaisk to the airport. Accommodation: Accommodation will be at Taininskaya Sloboda in double and triple rooms. Note the different options for either private or shared bathrooms. If you have a need to stay in a separate room, we can try to solve this problem for additional fee. Number of rooms at the camp is limited. Participants of the field workshop will be accommodated in double and triple rooms (bathrooms in the room or in a block of rooms). Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 23 Route of the field workshop (image courtesy: Maria Bronnikova) Useful information: Altai climate is ultra-continental. Much of the field workshop route passes through mountainous area where the contrast of weather conditions can be very significant, and night temperatures might be close to zero (even in August). Despite the expressed moisture deficit, the maximum amount of precipitation falls in summer, so there may be either heavy or drizzling rains. In the highland part of the rout (the valley of the Boguty River) hail and snow are possible. Participants of the field workshop will need to be equipped with comfortable field shoes, clothes, both in case of heat (daytime temperatures can reach +30°C) and cold, as well as windy and rainy weather (sunscreen is needed!). The farthest field facilities are located at a distance of 15-30 minutes walking up the slope from the place where transport may approach. The route does not require special skills and equipment but can be tedious. Due to the specifics of the national cuisine, poor in fruits and vegetables, the organizers and participants may have difficulties in meeting the demands for vegetarian food. Vegetarians participating in the field tour should be prepared for a monotonous menu. Please note: Altai is an endemic encephalitis area. The organizers recommend to get vaccination against encephalitis. Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 24 Important dates 1 January - 1 March - Payment open. 1 March - Deadline for registration, payment and abstract submission. Contacts XIV ISFWP website (http://www.isfwp.igras.ru) will be active from 1 January 2020. Please contact the secretaries of the organizing committee with any possible question: Julia Konoplyanikova and Julia Karpova at: paleosols2020@gmail.com Eurosoil 2020: Connecting People and Soil, 24-28 August 2020, Geneva, Switzerland Important dates 6 January - Early Bird Registrations Open 20 February - Call for Contributions Deadline Mid-May - Notifications to Accepted Contribution Submitters 28 May - Early Bird Registrations Deadline 29 July - Late Registrations Sessions related to the commission 1.6 activities 5.01 Cultural heritage of urban and pre-urban soils: geoarchaeological approach. 6.16 Soil archives to understand future changes of climate, landscapes, and the pedosphere. Registration and abstract submission is open at https://eurosoil2020.com/call-forcontributions/ Call for contributions is open at https://eurosoil2020.com/call-for-contributions/ Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 25 16th International Conference on Soil Micromorphology, Kraków, Poland; 30 August to 3 September 2020 This Conference will be hosted by the Jagiellonian University in Kraków; the oldest and one of the leading Polish Universities. Schedule includes scientific sessions and a one-day midconference excursion. Pre- and post-conference activities are also planned. General information Venue: Jagiellonian University in Kraków, 3rd Campus, Gronostajowa Str. Pre-conference 24-30 August - Micromorphological course (details will be announced later). Conference 30 August (Sunday) - registration (afternoon) and ice-breaking party at the Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University. 31 August (Monday) - registration, opening session, plenary sessions, poster session 1, afternoon: guide visit to Kraków city center (undergrounds beneath the Main Market Square and a walk around the city center). 1 September (Tuesday) - Plenary sessions, poster session 2, IUSS Business Meeting, Banquet 2 September (Wednesday) - Mid-conference excursion (selected soils in Kraków and its vicinity). 3 September (Thursday) - Plenary sessions, summary and closing ceremony. Post-conference excursion: 4-6 September 2020 (Friday to Sunday) - Polish Upland tour with emphasis on micromorphological aspects: Soils developed from loess, gypsum and carbonate rocks; paleosols in loess; fossil Jurassic Podzols; Technosols in metal mining areas. Important dates 29 February - End of the abstract submission 29 February - Early-bird registration closed Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 26 March/April - Acceptance of abstracts Webpage: http://www.icosm2020.sggw.pl/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/16icosm/ Email: icosm2020@sggw.pl Phone: +48 22 5932612 12th International Geochronology Summer School: Dating techniques in environmental research, Morteratsch, Switzerland; 30 August - 03 September 2020 Topics to be covered in lectures, excursions and workshops include dating techniques such as numerical methods (radiocarbon, exposure dating with cosmogenic nuclides, OSL, 137Cs, 210Pb, etc.), dendrochronology, anthracology, archaeomagnetic dating, palaeolimnology, as well as relative methods like soil weathering and Schmidt-hammer technique. Lecturers: Holger Gärtner (WSL), Paolo Cherubini (WSL), Markus Egli (Univ. of Zurich), Susan Ivy-Ochs (ETH Zurich/Uni Zurich), Dmitry Tikhomirov (ETH Zurich/Uni Zurich), Dennis Dahms (Univ. Northern Iowa), Irka Hajdas (ETH Zurich), Jérôme Poulenard (University Savoie Mont Blanc), Eileen Eckmeier (LMU University of Munich), Evdokia Tema (Univ. of Torino), Natacha Gribenski (Univ. of Bern), Nathalie Dubois (EAWAG) and others. The Summer School is open to young researchers (PhD students and Post-Docs) worldwide. Participation is competitive and will be limited to a maximum of 20. The registration fee (750 CHF) includes accommodation (room sharing required), half board and lunch, field trips and teaching material. Credit points: 3 ECTS Application deadline: 30 April 2020 Registration: http://www.geo.uzh.ch/en/units/gch/geochronologysummerschool/ registration.html Webinfo: http://www.geo.uzh.ch/en/units/gch/geochronologysummerschool.html Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 27 Fluvial Archives Group (FLAG) is an independent research group with links to INQUA, IGU and IGBP (PAGES), holds 2020 biennial meeting in Moscow, Russia; 2-9 September 2020 This meeting is hosted by the Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, and will include 1-2 day(s) of conference sessions and 7 days field trip along the upper Volga River. Conference and field trip topics include: Evolution of fluvial systems at different time scales, River response to climate/tectonic/human influence, Rivers in formerly glaciated landscapes, Alluvial geoarchaeology, paleohydrology and paleopedology, Alluvial stratigraphy and sedimentology, Natural hazards in river valleys, Methodological issues (modelling, dating techniques, etc.). Deadlines 31 28 31 31 January - Preliminary registration February - Abstract submission March - Final registration with fee payment May - Sending visa invitations to registered participants Conference E-mail: Flag-2020@yandex.ru Conference Website (in progress): http://eg.igras.ru/flag2020/ Andrei Panin, Chair of organizing committee INQUA IFG Section on European Quaternary Stratigraphy (SEQS) - Quaternary Stratigraphy: Sediments, localities, palaeofauna and human migrations across Central Europe, Wrocław and Sienna near Stronie Śląskie, Poland; 27 September - 3 October 2020 Highlights of 1st Circular Scientific sessions ‣ Karst and Cave sequences ‣ Quaternary stratigraphy, chronology, geomorphology and tectonics Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 28 ‣ Human and environment in the Quaternary ‣ Major regional subdivisions of the Quaternary in European and Asian regions: toward a common data-base (Datestra) Publication of conference papers: Proceedings will (most probably) be published as a Special Issue of Quaternary International. The Organizing Committee will invite authors to contribute to this volume. Payment: Payment of the conference fees will open in January 2020. All fees include current VAT. The conference fee can be paid with bank transfer only until 20 September 2020. The conference fee includes scientific sessions, abstract volume, other scientific material and coffee breaks, banquet and cultural programme. The early registration fee will be fixed around 150 Euro. After 30 June 2020 it will be fixed around 200 Euro. The organizers highly recommend accommodation and meals (27-30 September) provided by Aparthotel for around 250 Euro. Filed trips fee will be fixed for around 300 Euro for the early registration, and 350 Euro after 30 June 2020. Overnights, food and transport included. For official letter of invitation (visas etc., in case needed) please contact the organizers. Dates and deadlines 15 January - Start of registration 30 June - Deadline for early registration payment 10 August - Deadline for abstract submission and late registration. 5 September - 2nd Circular with a definitive programme 27 September - Workshop SEQS 28-29 September - Indoor meeting 30 September - 3 October - Excursion Financial support Financial support by SEQS-DATESTRA for PhD students, early career researchers and DCR will probably be available, depending upon the final decision of INQUA. See https://www.inqua-seqs.org/, or contact Pierluigi Pieruccini pierluigi.pieruccini@unito.it Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 29 Institutions supporting the conference INQUA – SEQS Section on European Quaternary Stratigraphy INQUA - SACCOM Commission on Stratigraphy and Chronology University of Warsaw Polish Academy of Sciences Committee for Quaternary Research, PAS Polish Geological Society Organizing committee Krzysztof Stefaniak, Adrian Marciszak, Artur Sobczyk, Adam Kotowski, Janusz Badura, Urszula Ratajczak; Secretary: Urszula Ratajczak e-mail: seqspoland2020@gmail.com, urszula.ratajczak2@uwr.edu.pl Department of Palaeozoology Sienkiewicza 21 str. 50-335 Wrocław ————————————————————— At the museum of the Yudinovo Archaeological Site (photos courtesy: Sergey Sedov) Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 30 New Publications Soils of the Past: An Introduction to Paleopedology, 3rd Edition Gregory J. Retallack Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oregon, Oregon, USA. (gregr@uoregon.edu) At last the third edition of “Soils of the past” is available, replacing the edition of 2001. These dates are significant because 2001 is about when a new generation of quantitative pedofunctions began to be published. Few of these were in the 2nd edition, but there are now many in this new edition: so many that they are consigned to tables as a convenient reference. Pedofunctions such as climofunctions and chronofunctions have been a preoccupation of paleopedology, because they allow interpretation of past environments from paleosols. This whole discipline was started by the late great Hans Jenny, and can be called nomopedology, or laws of soil science. Another direction featured in the new edition is astropedology, or soil science of the early earth and other planetary bodies in the solar system. Soils of the Moon have been known for many years, but Curiosity Rover has revealed a treasure trove of new information on Martian paleosols. Precambrian paleosols at major geological unconformities have been known for many years, but newly discovered have been a variety of paleosols in sedimentary sequences, which are uncannily like Martian paleosols in their limited oxidation and abundant sulfate minerals. Despite difficulties with science funding and student interest in natural science, we live in an age of information and accelerating discovery, and this new edition is long overdue. Part I: Soils and paleosols; Paleopedology・Soils on and under the landscape・Features of fossil soils・Soil-forming processes・Soil classification・Mapping and naming paleosols・Part II: Factors in soil formation; Models of soil formation・Climate・Organisms・Topographic relief as a factor・Parent material as a factor・Time as a factor・Part III: Fossil record of soils; A long-term natural experiment in pedogenesis・Soils of other worlds・Early life on land・Large plants and animals on land・Afforestation of the land・Human impact on landscapes (photo courtesy: Gregory Retallack) ISBN: 978-1-119-53045-9 | Wiley-Blackwell | 552 Pages www.wiley.com/Soils of the Past Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 31 Invited Contributions Development of geochemical paleoclimate proxies and pedotransfer functions for paleosols Steven G. Driese1, Lee C. Nordt1, William E. Lukens1,2, Gary E. Stinchcomb3, and Jack D. Tubbs1 Terrestrial Paleoclimatology Research Group, Department of Geosciences, Baylor University, Texas, USA (Steven_Driese@baylor.edu) 2 School of Geosciences, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana, USA 3 Watershed Studies Institute & Earth & Environmental Sciences, Murray State University, Kentucky, USA 1 The great interest in paleosol bulk geochemistry has driven two primary directions of research: 1) estimation of paleoclimate conditions, chiefly mean annual precipitation (MAP) and mean annual temperature (MAT), and 2) estimation of colloidal soil properties such as pH, base saturation, CEC, etc. that relate to soil ecosystem function. Initial paleoclimate proxies were developed based on relatively small and somewhat biased soil data sets in which MAP was limited to 200-1600 mm yr-1 and MAT was limited to 2-22 oC [1]. Our research group recently developed a more widely applicable paleoclimate model (PPM1.0) using 600+ B horizons of North American soils forming under spanning greater ranges of MAP (130-6900 mm yr-1) and MAT (0-27 oC), but this increased range has come at a cost in terms of increased error estimates for MAP [2]. Whereas estimations of MAP for paleosols appear generally reliable, many available MAT proxies underestimate MAT based on paleolatitudinal reconstructions and paleobotanical proxies; these are paleosols lacking sufficient time of pedogenesis to achieve equilibrium with climate due to geomorphic instability within paleoenvironments. Another area of development is pedotransfer functions useful for estimating colloidal properties. Although well-established for one type of soil (Vertisols: heavy clay soils with a high shrink-swell potential) and their paleosol equivalents [3], only soil pH has thus far been shown amenable to a universal soil approach [4]. Rather than continuing with traditional regression-based approaches, promising new avenues include regression trees and machine learning to more thoroughly interrogate soil geochemical data bases [5]. [1] [2] [3] [4] Sheldon et al. (2002) J. Geol. 110, 687-696. Stinchcomb et al. (2016) Am. J. Sci. 316, 746-777. Nordt and Driese (2010) Am. J. Sci. 310, 37-64. Lukens et al. (2018) J. Geol. 126, 427-449. Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 32 [5] Lukens et al. (in review) Am. J. Sci. Submitted to GOLDSCHMIDT2019 | 18-23 August 2019 | Barcelona | Spain https://goldschmidt.info/2019/abstracts/abstractView?id=2019001029 Critical Zone Studies of Texas Vertisols: Implications for Interpreting Climate, Landscapes, and Biota of the Past Steven G. Driese1, Lee C. Nordt1, Gary E. Stinchcomb2, and William E. Lukens3 Terrestrial Paleoclimatology Research Group, Department of Geosciences, Baylor University, Texas, USA (Steven_Driese@baylor.edu) 2 Watershed Studies Institute & Earth & Environmental Sciences, Murray State University, Kentucky, USA 3 School of Geosciences, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana, USA 1 The National Academy of Sciences identified integrative studies of the "Critical Zone" (CZ) as one of the six compelling opportunities for earth scientists in the next decades. The CZ is defined as the near-surface environment in which complex interactions involving rock, soil, water, air and living organisms regulate the natural habitat. Integrative studies of the surfaceand near-surface environment are recognized as an important area of focus by scientific communities including geology, biology, pedology, and hydrology. Modern-ancient analog studies of Texas Coast Prairie and Blackland CZs relate the morphology, microscopy and chemistry of surface soils to interpreting the genesis and climate record of equivalent paleosols. Modern Vertisols are clay-rich soils characterized by macro- and micromorphological characteristics formed in response to shrink-swell behavior. PaleoVertisols have provided important information on paleoenvironments, including Phanerozoic estimates of atmospheric pCO2 and rainfall and changes in root morphology accompanying the evolution and diversification of terrestrial land plants. Many features, including slickensides, rhombohedral and wedge-shaped peds, shrinkage cracks and sepic-plasmic microfabrics are well-preserved in the ancient rock record and can be easily identified in the field and in thin section. Stable carbon isotope analysis of organic matter in paleo-Vertisols may help to interpret the soil ecosystem (dominance of C3 vs. C4 flora) and changes in soil water availability that may indicate climate change. Similar information may be preserved in the isotopic compositions of pedogenic carbonates, as well as provide estimates of paleoatmospheric pCO2 using the soil carbonate paleobarometer. Bulk geochemistry Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 33 provides estimates of MAP and pedotransfer functions provide estimates of colloidal properties. The wide spatial and temporal distribution of paleo-Vertisols reflects the potential for formation under wide ranges of moisture regimes (from arid to semi-wet tropics); the only strict requirements are a parent material weatherable to fine clay, and an environment in which rainfall is seasonally distributed, or in which soils experience seasonal soil-moisture deficits. Terrestrial facies intervals within Phanerozoic sedimentary deposits in North America contain abundant paleo-Vertisols. Paleo-Vertisols appear over-represented in the deep-time geological record as compared with their present global distribution of 2-3% of modern soils. Submitted to GSA2019: T16. Building Bridges between Modern and Deep-Time Critical Zones. Sponsored by GSA Soils and Soil Processes Division Advocates: Ashlee L.D. Dere, Gary E. Stinchcomb, Zsuzsanna Balogh-Brunstad, Steven G. Driese, Lee C. Nordt, and Bryan Moravec. 22-25 September 2019 | Phoenix | Arizona | USA https://community.geosociety.org/gsa2019/learn/technical/topical Paleo-Vertisols in the Phanerozoic rock record: In honor of career contributions of Dr. Larry P. Wilding Steven G. Driese and Lee C. Nordt Terrestrial Paleoclimatology Research Group, Department of Geosciences, Baylor University, Texas, USA (Steven_Driese@baylor.edu) Dr. Larry P. Wilding spent a lifetime studying genesis, morphology and properties of USDA Vertisols across many continents and revolutionized our thinking on the physical mechanics of the formation of this important soil Order that best explains field observations. His research enabled our recognition of clay-rich paleosols that show abundant evidence for shrink-swell processes and satisfy diagnostic criteria for classification as Vertisols (hereafter "paleo-Vertisols"). Modern Vertisols are characterized by macro- and micromorphological characteristics formed in response to shrink-swell behavior. Paleo-Vertisols have provided important information on paleoenvironments, including Phanerozoic estimates of atmospheric pCO2 and rainfall and changes in root morphology accompanying the evolution and diversification of terrestrial land plants. Many features, including slickensides, rhombohedral and wedge-shaped peds, shrinkage cracks and sepic-plasmic microfabrics are well-preserved in the ancient rock record and can be easily identified in the field and in thin section. Stable carbon isotope analysis of organic matter in paleo-Vertisols may help to Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 34 interpret the soil ecosystem (dominance of C3 vs. C4 flora) and changes in soil water availability that may indicate climate change. Similar information may be preserved in the isotopic compositions of pedogenic carbonates, as well as provide estimates of paleoatmospheric pCO2 using the soil carbonate paleobarometer. Bulk geochemistry provides estimates of MAP and pedotransfer functions provide estimates of colloidal properties. The wide spatial and temporal distribution of paleo-Vertisols reflects the potential for formation under wide ranges of moisture regimes (from arid to semi-wet tropics); the only strict requirements are a parent material weatherable to fine clay, and an environment in which rainfall is seasonally distributed, or in which soils experience seasonal soil-moisture deficits. Terrestrial facies intervals within Phanerozoic sedimentary deposits in North America contain abundant paleo-Vertisols. Paleo-Vertisols appear over-represented in the deep-time geological record as compared with their present global distribution of 2-3% of modern soils. Submitted to 2019 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting | 10-13 November 2019 | San Antonio, Texas | USA https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2019am/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/118191 Top left: Burleson series Vertisol near Snook, Texas; Dr. Larry Wilding photograph (published by NRCS in 2000 on calendar); top right: Texas Vertisol climosequence map (Nordt et al. 2006, Journal of Geology); bottom left: Driese Vertisol Soil Pit (2019 talk based on Driese et al. 2019 GSA CZO Vertisols; cross plot from Nordt and Driese 2010 Geology); bottom right: Vertisol diagrammatic (Lynn and Williams, 1992, Soil Survey Horizons). Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 35 Using soil stratigraphy and tephrochronology to understand the origin, age, and classification of a unique late Quaternary tephra-derived Ultisol in Aotearoa New Zealand David J. Lowe School of Science (Earth Sciences), University of Waikato, New Zealand (david.lowe@waikato.ac.nz) In this article, I show how an Ultisol, representative of a globally-important group of soils with clay-rich subsoils, low base saturation, and low fertility, in the central Waikato region in northern North Island, can be evaluated using soil stratigraphy and tephrochronology to answer challenging questions about its genesis, age and classification. The Kainui soil, a Typic Kandiudult (Soil Taxonomy) and Buried-granular Yellow Ultic Soil (New Zealand Soil Classification), occurs on low rolling hills of Mid-Quaternary age mainly in the Hamilton lowlands in, and north and northeast of, Hamilton city. It is a composite, multi-layered tephra-derived soil consisting of two distinct parts, upper and lower. The upper part is a coverbed typically c. 0.4–0.7 m in thickness (c. 0.6 m on average) comprising numerous late Quaternary rhyolitic and andesitic tephras that have been accumulating incrementally since c. 50 ka (the age of Rotoehu Ash at the coverbed’s base) whilst simultaneously being pedogenically altered (i.e., forming soil horizons) via developmental upbuilding pedogenesis during Marine Oxygen Isotope Stages (MOIS) 3-1. Any original depositional (fall) bedding has been almost entirely masked by pedogenic alteration. Sediments in lakes aged c. 20 ka adjacent to the low hills have preserved around 40 separate, thin, macroscopic tephra-fall beds mainly rhyolitic in composition, and equivalent subaerial deposits together form the upper c. 30 cm of the coverbed. Okareka (c. 21.8 ka), Okaia (c. 28.6 ka), Tāhuna (c. 39.3 ka) and (especially) Rotoehu tephras make up the bulk of the lower c. 30 cm of the coverbed. Tephra admixing has occurred throughout the coverbed because of soil upbuilding processes. Moderately well drained, this upper profile is dominated by halloysite (not allophane) in the clay fraction because of limited desilication. In contrast, Otorohanga soils, on rolling hills to the south of Hamilton, are formed in equivalent but thicker (>c. 0.8 m) late Quaternary tephras ≤c. 50 ka that are somewhat more andesitic although predominantly rhyolitic overall. These deeper soils are well drained with strong desilication and thus are allophanic, generating Typic Hapludands. Ubiquitous redox features, together with shortlived contemporary reduction observed in the lower coverbed of a Kainui soil profile, indicate that the Kainui soil in general is likely to be saturated by perching for several days, or near saturation for several months, each year. The perching occurs because the coverbed overlies a slowly-permeable, buried, clay-rich paleosol on upper Hamilton Ash beds, >c. 50 ka in age, which makes up the lower part of the two-storeyed Kainui soil. The coverbedPaleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 36 paleosol boundary is a lithologic discontinuity (unconformity). Irregular in shape, it represents a tree-overturn paleosurface that may be c. 74 ka in age (MOIS 5/4 boundary). The buried paleosol is markedly altered and halloysitic with relict clay skins (forming paleo-argillic and/or paleo-kandic horizons) and redoximorphic features. It is inferred to have formed via developmental upbuilding pedogenesis during the Last Interglacial (MOIS 5e). The entire Hamilton Ash sequence, c. 3 m in thickness and overlain unconformably by Rotoehu Ash and underlain by c. 340-ka Rangitawa Tephra at the base, represents a thick composite (accretionary) set of clayey, welded paleosols developed by upbuilding pedogenesis from MOIS 10 to 5. Lowe 2019. Quaternary 2 (1), 9 (34 pp.) https://www.mdpi.com/2571-550X/2/1/9 Upper photo is same profile as below. Bottom photo is Figure 3. in Lowe (2019) - “A long section of weathered tephras, including the Hamilton Ash (H) beds, exposed in a road cut on Gordonton Road, about 3 km north of Hamilton. The dark reddish-brown soil horizons on uppermost Hamilton Ash, probably reflect pedogenesis in the Last Interglacial or Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage (MOIS) 5e. Above the unconformable boundary (marked by the upper dashed line) is a thin silty coverbed of multiple, intermixed late Quaternary tephras that have accumulated incrementally over t h e p a s t c . 5 0 k a .” ( p h o to courtesy: David Lowe) Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 37 Special Acknowledgements Gratitude to the lecturers of the annual International School on Paleopedology for Young Scholars in Siberia, Russia The International School on Paleopedology for Young Scholars, which was held from 2010 to 2019 in Siberia, completed its work. For ten years, leading Russian and foreign scientists delivered lectures on both fundamental and applied issues of paleopedology, as well as topics of adjacent sciences, and conducted master classes on the basic methods of paleosols field study. They have delivered more than 150 lectures and held about 50 master classes. On behalf of the organizing committee and young participants of the School, we would very much like to thank the leading experts of the world scientific community who unselfishly transferred their knowledge and experience to the younger generation, by giving lectures and conducting master classes in different years: Alexandrovsky Alexander (Prof, Institute of Geography RAS, Moscow), Alexandrovskaya Elena (Prof., Institute of Geography RAS, Moscow), Andreeva Darima (Ph.D., Institute of General and Experimental Biology SB RAS, Ulan-Ude), Bezuglova Olga (Prof., Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don), Blagodatnova Anastasia (Ph.D., Novosibirsk state pedagogical university), Blyakharchuk Tatyana (Prof, Institute of monitoring of climatic and ecological systems biology SB RAS, Tomsk), Chendev Yuri (Prof., Belgorod State University, Belgorod), Dergacheva Maria (Prof., Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry, SB RAS, Novosibirsk), Fedeneva Irina (Prof., Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry, SB RAS, Novosibirsk), Fűlek György (Prof., Szent István University, Godollő, Hungary), Gnibidenko Zinaida (Prof, Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics, SB RAS, Novosibirsk), Golyeva Alexandra (Prof., Institute of Geography RAS, Moscow), Granina Natalya (Ph.D., Irkutsk State University, Irkutsk), Ivanov Igor (Prof., Institute of PhysicoChemical and Biological Problems of Pedology RAS, Pushchino), Jung Haye Kyung (PhD, Mokpo University, Southern Korea), Khokhlova Olga (Prof., Institute of Physico-Chemical and Biological Problems of Pedology RAS, Pushchino), Korkina Irina (Ph.D., Institute of plant and animal ecology UB RAS, Yekaterinburg), Kovaleva Ekaterina (Ph.D., Moscow State University, Moscow), Kurbatskaya Svetlana (Ph.D., Institute Tuva of integrated development of natural resources SB RAS, Kyzyl), Larionova Natalia (Ph.D., Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology, Kazakhstan), Lebedeva-Verba Marina (Prof., Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute, Moscow), Lomov Stanislav (Prof., Penza State University of Architecture and Construction) Lukashenko Sergey (Prof., Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology, Kazakhstan), Makeev Alexander (Prof., Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow), Mermut Ahmet Ruhi (Prof. of Soils, Dr Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock , Turkey; Harran University Faculty of Agriculture Department of Soil Science), Nekrasova Olga (Ph.D., Ural Federal University named after the First President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin, Yekaterinburg), Ostroumov Vladimir (Prof., Institute of Physico-Chemical and Biological Problems of Pedology RAS, Pushchino), Pall D.G. (University of Szeged, Hungary), Parnachev Valery (Prof., National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk), Persaits G. (University of Szeged, Hungary), Ponomarenko Elena (PhD, Ottawa University, Ottawa, Canada), Prokashev Alexey (Prof., Vyatka State University, Kirov), Richvanov Leonid (Prof., National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk), Roslyakov Sergey (Ph.D., Novosibirsk State Museum of Regional History and Folklife), Rusakov Alexei (Prof., Institute of Earth Sciences, St. Petersburg), Rykova Valentina (The State Public Scientific Technological library SB RAS, Novosibirsk), Sauer Daniela (Prof., Dresden University of Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 38 Technology, Germany), Sedov Sergey (Prof., Institute of Geology, Mexico), Sheynkman Vladimir (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel), Shumilovskikh Lyudmila (Ph.D., Georg-August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, German), Smolentsev Boris (Ph.D., Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry, SB RAS, Novosibirsk), Snakin Valery (Prof., Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow), Sycheva Svetlana (Ph.D., Institute of Geography RAS, Moscow), Syso Alexander (Prof., Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry, SB RAS, Novosibirsk), Tairov Alexander (Prof., South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk), Trifonova Tatyana (Prof., Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow), Vashukevich Nadezhda (Ph.D., Irkutsk State University, Irkutsk), Vasilieva Olga (Prof, Central Siberian botanical garden SB RAS, Novosibirsk), Voronina Larisa (Ph.D., St. Petersburg University of Economics and management, Novosibirsk branch, Novosibirsk), Yakimenko Olga (Ph.D., Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow), Zakharchenko Alexander (Prof., Yugra State University, Khanty-Mansiysk), Zavarzina Anna (Ph.D., Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow), Zazovskaya Ale (Ph.D., Institute of Geography RAS, Moscow), Zech Michael (Ph.D., University of Bayeuth, Germany), Zech Roland (Ph.D., University of Bayeuth, Germany), Zech Wolfgang (Prof., University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth city, Germany). We wish you all success in science, prosperity and look forward to future meetings! On behalf of the school organizing committee and young participants; Maria Dergacheva and Natalya Bazhina Group photo of the 2019 International School on Paleopedology for Young Scholars (photo courtesy: Maria Dergacheva) Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 39 The Last Page One way of measuring the expertise of a paleopedologist is by the quality of his/her paleo-cakes! Luckily, Fatima Kurbanova (Moscow, Russia) was kind enough to share on of her many paleo-cakes. Hopefully, the recipe will be published in the next Issue… (Image courtesy: @fati_kurbanova) Paleopedology Newsletter Issue 28, December 2019 40