Two pedogenic models for paleoclimatic records of magnetic susceptibility from Chinese and Siberian loess

Abstract

Magnetic susceptibility has been used as a vital tool for reconstruction of the past climate change and understanding present environments. The in-situ enhancement of ferromagnetic content is believed to be the main reason for increase of MS in soil units. The present study of Siberian samples suggests that the notable differences in magnetic properties of the Siberian loess and paleosols reflect variations of grain size as well as mineralogy of the parent material. Ferrimagnetic minerals are destroyed during wet and warm periods resulting in MS reduction opposite to MS increase in the Chinese loess due to different climatic conditions and monsoonal atmospheric circulations.