Sensitivity of inland dune systems to Late Glacial and Holocene environmental change in Central Europe inferred from the geochemical record

This contribution is based on integrated investigations of inland dune sites in Poland, representative of dune systems in Central Europe and of aeolian landscapes in the central part of the European Sand Belt. The profiles comprise successions of aeolian sands intercalated with fossil soil horizons and organic-rich layers, recording alternating phases of dune activity and surface stabilisation from the Late Pleniglacial through the Late Glacial and into the Holocene.

The analytical framework combined bulk sediment geochemistry, grain-size analysis, spectrophotometric measurements, and absolute dating using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and radiocarbon (^14C) methods. This multi-proxy approach allowed assessment of depositional conditions, degrees of pedogenic transformation, and the temporal relations between phases of aeolian accumulation, stabilisation, and reactivation. Geochemical analyses focused on variations in major and trace element concentrations and on indices commonly applied in reconstructions of weathering intensity and element redistribution. Granulometric and spectrophotometric data supported the identification of sedimentary and soil-related signals within the analysed successions.

The results reveal consistent geochemical and sedimentological contrasts between aeolian sands and fossil soil horizons across all investigated sites. Fossil soils are characterised by relative enrichment in weathering-related elements and pedogenic indices, whereas aeolian sands display more homogeneous geochemical compositions indicative of limited post-depositional alteration and repeated aeolian reworking. Grain-size distributions are dominated by well-sorted sands, punctuated by episodic shifts towards coarser fractions that reflect short-lived high-energy depositional events. OSL and ^14C ages document multiple phases of aeolian activity and surface stabilisation spanning the Late Pleniglacial, Bølling–Allerød, Younger Dryas, and the Holocene.

These patterns are interpreted as expressions of the high sensitivity of inland dune systems to short-term climatic oscillations, which controlled vegetation cover, surface moisture, and sediment availability. Phases of climatic amelioration promoted dune stabilisation and soil formation, whereas cooler or more unstable conditions favoured renewed aeolian activity. While regionally coherent trends are observed across the study area, the magnitude and expression of geochemical and sedimentological signals vary between sites, highlighting the role of local environmental controls in shaping the palaeoenvironmental record. Overall, the study demonstrates the high sensitivity of inland dune–soil systems to climatic variability and underlines the value of integrated geochemical and chronological approaches for reconstructing the long-term evolution of aeolian landscapes in the European Sand Belt.