Open AccessDistribution of relict permafrost features in the P annonian B asin, H ungary
Author(s) -
Fábián Szabolcs Ákos,
Kovács János,
Varga Gábor,
Sipos György,
Horváth Zoltán,
ThamóBozsó Edit,
Tóth Gábor
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
boreas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.95
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1502-3885
pISSN - 0300-9483
DOI - 10.1111/bor.12046
Subject(s) - permafrost , geology , frost (temperature) , infill , geomorphology , structural basin , period (music) , paleontology , physical geography , oceanography , geography , ecology , physics , acoustics , biology
Wedge structures and involutions suggest that L ate P leistocene frozen ground, either permafrost or deep seasonal frost, extended at least as far south as latitude 47° N in central E urope (the P annonian B asin). Optically stimulated luminescence dating of the sand infill from a number of wedges indicates that emplacement of the sand infill occurred during the L ate P leistocene (22.2–15.7 ka). This suggests that during this time the mean annual air temperature was depressed by at least ∼15° C relative to the present. Either continuous or discontinuous permafrost was probably present in the north and NW of the P annonian B asin. The subsequent thaw of frozen ground is indicated by the widespread occurrence of deformed sediments. The presence of soil (ground) wedges suggests conditions of deep seasonal frost probably existed during the period when climate ameliorated following the L ast P ermafrost M aximum ( LPM ).