Der besondere Umwelt- und Klimacharakter der spätmittelpleistozänen Warmzeit von Neumark Nord (Geiseltal)

Abstract

Mania, D.; Mai, D. H.; Seifert-Eulen, M.; Thomae, M.; Altermann, M.: The special environmentaland climatic character of the Late Middle Pleistocene interglacial of Neumark Nord (Geisel valley). –Hercynia N. F. 43 (2010): 203 –256.The geological sequence deriving from the open-cut mine of Neumark Nord allows to ascribe the interglacialsediments to the Saale complex. The 15-m-thick, limnic and telmatic sediments of a fossillake are located on the ground moraine of the Saale glaciation (Drenthian, Saale I) and are covered by aperiglacial sequence with the loess of the Warthian (Saale II, III). Overlying are a soil complex (Eemianand Early Weichselian) and the periglacial sequence with the loess of the Weichselian. The palynologicalinvestigation yields the Pleistocene basic succession of the vegetation. A fossil flora of fruits andseeds containing about 200 species originates from the interglacial maximum. They give evidence forthe development of Quercetalia pubescentis with dry woods of the Aceri tatarici-Quercion. Steppescoexist with them (Festico-Brometea, Astragalo-Stipion). A great number of the species presently occupySouthern Siberian, West-Asian and East-European as well as Pontic regions. They prove the strongsubcontinental influence on vegetation and climate of this interglacial. Forest and steppe associationsappropriate for comparisons presently occur in the Pannonia lowland and the southern Russian steppes.Accordingly, the interglacial climate of Neumark Nord exhibits 2–3 °C higher temperatures, dry, hotsummers and low precipitations. Summer and early autumn were characterised by dry periods of 3 – 3 ½months. Very intensive dry periods could be determined in the interglacial maximum. Three times, theyled to the regression of the lake and three times to its intensive eutrophia. The gastropod fauna confirmsand supports the results of the palaeobotanic investigation. The subcontinental interglacial of NeumarkNord led to environmental and climatic conditions that are unknown in this extense in the Middle andLate Pleistocene of Central Europe.Key words: interglacial, region of river Saale, subcontinental climate, Quercetalia pubescentis, Aceritatarici-Quercion, species-rich flora and fauna