Lichte, Martin and Behling, Hermann (1999) Dry and cold climatic conditions in the formation of the present landscape in Southeastern Brazil An interdisciplinary approach to a controversially discussed topic. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, 43 (3). pp. 341-358. DOI https://doi.org/10.1127/zfg/43/1999/341.

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Abstract

New evidence on the paleoclimatic history of Southeastern Brazil is being found and analyzed in mostly interdisciplinary geoscientific collaboration. Specific information on the paleoclimate can be correlated with the Quaternary processes that formed the modern landscape, which consists of a level of stoneline-covered isolated hills and slopes leaning to the level of the Sulamericana index plain. Usually we find crystalline bedrock. The stoneline in its turn is covered by a fine sediment. In the headwater areas of the present river level deposits of black organic rich material are found that yield abundant material for the analysis of fossil pollen. Pollen deposits from two regions of Southeastern Brazil, dated between 18.000 and >48.000 14C yr B.P., prove clearly that the last-glacial landscape was covered by extensive areas of subtropical grasslands and small areas of gallery forests along the rivers. The vegetation as seen from the pollen infers temperatures of 5° to 7°C below the present mean annual temperatures as well as dry conditions. This evidence is supported by Thermoluminescence dating of quartzes from clay samples that were taken from the hill tops and prove that the sediment was exposed to daylight about 20.000 yrs B.P., thus indicating transport by wind. There is a clear mineralogical and granulometrical contrast between bedrock and the sediment cover on top of the stonelines, and finally the position of the stonelines between the weathered bedrock and the sediment on the top of isolated hills proves as definitely as all the other aspects that the sediment cover consists of largely windtransported material. Thus the modern landscape presents forms influenced by the dry and cold climatic conditions that all the evidence has proved. The work for this paper was done on several occasions with partners from different disciplines.

Document Type:	Article
Programme Area:	PA Not Applicable
Research affiliation:
Refereed:	Yes
Open Access Journal?:	No
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1127/zfg/43/1999/341
ISSN:	0372-8854
Date Deposited:	09 Oct 2025 13:07
Last Modified:	09 Oct 2025 13:07
URI:	https://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/5744

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