New chronology and organic matter delta C-13 paleoclimatic significance ofNussloch loess sequence (Rhine Valley, Germany)

Due to its high accumulation rate, the loess sequence of Nussloch (Rhine Va lley. Germany) is well suited to a high-resolution study of continental pal eoenvironmental changes over the last climatic cycle for northwestern Europ e. As carbon isotope ratios of plants depend on environmental variations, d elta(13)C of loess-derived organic matter constitute reliable paleoclimatic proxies. We present here a new chronology of Nussloch loess sequence based on several C-14 and TL-dates. Our data show high correlations with global climate effects (Vosrok-[CO2]) or semi-global (GISP2-delta(18)O) and thus o ffer, in this way, a new approach to establish accurate chronologies in con tinental sequences. Furthermore, using a deconvolution of the delta(13)C Si gnal would provide a quantitative proxy of moisture supply and permit paleo precipitation reconstructions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.