Short climatic oscillations in a western European loess sequence (Kesselt, Belgium)

This new study of the loess section at Kesselt is focused mainly on the reconstruction of palaeoenvironments of the last glacial period in the Belgian–Dutch region. Detailed grain-size analyses, in combination with the study of the palaeosols and periglacial structures, indicate the occurrence of climatic cycles during loess deposition. Permafrost development coincided with enhanced deposition of relatively coarse loess and alternated with permafrost degradation, decreased deposition of finer loess and tundra soil formation. A newly designated palaeosol (‘Lafelt Soil’) is described in detail, particularly in terms of its micromorphological properties. It is a Luvisol and its chronostratigraphical position is still open to debate, but radiocarbon dating places it in the Weichselian Middle Pleniglacial.