Palaeosols as indicators of the climatic changes during Quaternary period in S Anatolia

Turkey, especially the Anatolian peninsular, was subject to climatic changes during the Pleistocene and Early Holocene. Natural environment and/or landscapes of Anatolia were changed considerably by these climatic changes. The distribution of natural vegetation, soil forming process, the agents forming the topography, and the human settlements of Anatolia were affected significantly by these climatic changes. Palaeosols in different areas imply a change of the climate in the Anatolia. The glacis or small piedmont extending down the foot slopes of mountains such as the Taurus Mountains were formed during the interglacial periods. The reddish deposits and/or soils having no lime content were also concurrently formed in Anatolia. On the other hand, mudflows may have occurred during the beginning of interglacials. Thus, mudflow deposits accumulated in the intermontane basins of the Southeastern Anatolia. All the soils in the arid and semi-arid part of Anatolia underwent leaching so that clay and carbonates accumulated in the subsoils as carbonate nodules and calcretes. Soil formation processes were considerably affected by these climatic changes as well. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited