Paläopedologische Klimazeugen zur Untergliederung des Rißeiszeiten-Komplexes im Rheingletschergebiet

Abstract. The Riß Ice Age, defined as a single uniform period by Penck & Brückner (1901/1909), has been divided into three morphostratigraphic units by Schreiner (1998, 1992) for the Rhine glacier area, Young Riß, Middle Riß (Doppelwall Riß) and Older Riß. In the study presented here using palaeopedological criteria, the question of the existence of interglacial climatic conditions between the individual divisions was examined. A total of at least three interglacial periods in the Riß complex could be proven. The results achieved from one soil (soil pocket in Bittelschieß) are ambiguous due to beheading activity. It could, however, be proven at several locations that interglacial soil formation occurred between the Young and Middle Riß. The interglacial period between Middle and Older Riß can be divided into two separate shorter periods. However, the evidence provided by sandy gravel does not prove with certainty that indeed colder climatic conditions were the cause of the division. The older section of this double interglacial period is characterised by thermophilic elements such as Pterocarya and Buxus in the clays of Bittelschieß. This inner Riß interglacial period is probably equivalent to the Holstein interglacial period. When compared with the pcriglacial area, it can be stated with certainty, that the loess from the last but one ice age, know as Riß loess in the alpine classification system, can only be temporally equivalent to the Young Riß.