SAALIAN NIVATION ACTIVITY IN THE BOSBEEK VALLEY, NE BELGIUM

The geomorphological analysis of the Bosbeek valley, situated in the p resent-day temperate climate of Belgium, establishes that in the Saali an periglacial environment snow played a major role in shaping the lan dscape. It is inferred that snow banks were important for a rapid and considerable retreat of the western valley side in loose deposits. Int ense snowmelt in the beginning of the short summers was responsible fo r the formation of a periglacial pediment between the valley side and the river floodplain. By these processes the Saalian was, at least in northeastern Belgium, the most effective glacial stage in terms of ero sion. During the Weichselian, the Saalian periglacial landscape was on ly slightly remodelled by river incision and cover sand deposition.