XIIth International Symposium and Field Workshop on Paleopedology (ISFWP)

“Paleosols, pedosediments and landscape morphology as archives of environmental evolution”. Kursk, Russia, August 10-15, 2013.

As a traditional activity of the International Commission on Paleopedology of IUSS the XIIth ISFWP combines scientific sessions and field trips. The main goal is discuss Soil, Geomorphic and Sedimentary records of Pleistocene and Holocene environmental changes.

Unique loess-paleosol sections,Paleolithic sites, and alluvial and colluvial pedosedimentary sequences with Late Pleistocene and Holocene paleosols will be presented during field trips.

A special attention will be paid to famous Russian Chernozems. Classic views and modern genetic concepts will be discussed at spectacular sites with Chenrozems under virgin steppe vegetation. Chernozems will be also examined as an important paleoenvironmental archive.

Chair of the organizing committee: O.N. Solomina (Institute of Geography, Moscow, Russia) Co-Chair: S.A. Sycheva (Institute of Geography, Moscow, Russia)

Contact: Dr. Maria Bronnikova, secretary of the Organizing Committee, E-mail: paleopedology2013@gmail.com

Kursk is located in the central part of the Russian Plain, within the East European loess area, which is the most extensive in the World. A number of unique loess-paleosol sections have been described here. At the same time the area is also famous for fundamental Dokuchaev’ studies of Russian Chernozems. Alekhin Biosphere Reserve is the only place in Europe with never ploughed Chernozem under natural steppe vegetation.

ISFWP Program

August 10 - 11: Pre-conference tour

August 12 - 13: Scientific sessions, sightseeing in Kursk, gala dinner

August 14 - 15: Post-conference tour

August 15: Departure to Moscow by night train at 7-26 pm, arrival in Moscow at 9-05 am on August 16.

Highlights of the field trips

 Middle and Late Pleistocene loess-paleosol and pedo-sedimentary sequences;

 Chernozems under virgin vegetation in the Alekhin State Biosphere Reserve;

 Paleolithic sites Kostenki and Divnogor’e with paleosols related to MIS-2 and MIS-3;

 Holocene floodplain soil-sedimentary sequences of the Don River.

World-famous Paleolithic site Kostenki (Photo: Kostenki 14).

Late Pleistocene loess-paleosol sequence exposed in Alexandrovskiy quarry.

We believe that field trips would be an exiting and important endeavour providing an opportunity for joint field experience and open discussions on the genesis and paleoenvironmental significance of paleosols. Further information on the Conference is available at http://paleopedology.msu.ru/paleopedology2013