SESSION 8

The wind across time and space: extreme events and sedimentary dynamics in arid and semi-arid environments during the Pleistocene.

Manon Beauvillier ^1,, Pierre Antoine², Olivier Moine² 

1 – LÉÉ, Montreal University 

2 – LGP, CNRS - UMR 8591, Thiais 

manon.beauvillier@umontreal.ca

The glacial cycles of Pleistocene are characterized by millennial-timescale climate oscillations, particularly well documented during the Upper Pleistocene, including Dansgaard-Oeschger cycles and Heinrich events.

 At certain points within these oscillations, climatic and environmental conditions favored the emission (deflation), transport and deposition of sedimentary particles by winds (aeolian sands and loess). These wind-driven processes have the greatest impact on sparsely vegetated environments, whether semi-arid or arid, hot or cold. Their actions have profoundly shaped landscapes, influenced ecosystem dynamics, and modified the habitability of territories. Understanding these mechanisms requires consideration of winds, surface conditions (vegetation cover, topography), and sediment properties across different spatial and temporal scales.

 The aim of this session is to explore methods to assess the impact of wind on landscape morphogenesis, ecosystems and, indirectly, on human occupation. Researchers are invited to discuss approaches and tools used to study wind processes and reconstruct past environments and climates. What challenges or issues have been encountered? What morphological and/or sedimentary records are available? How can we define the most relevant scales for analysing climate variability? How can we link observed local eolian dynamics with those inferred from global signals? In what ways can extreme wind events be a critical part of climate instability?

 Contributions may be based on field data, sedimentological or geochemical analysis, bio-indicators, numerical modeling, or novel experimental approaches, which may include recent analogues, used to understand past processes. This session aims to initiate an interdisciplinary discussion based on diversified studies to better understand the impact of wind on Quaternary environments.

 Key words: atmospheric circulation, climate variability, wind processes, arid and semi-arid environments, aeolian indicators, human occupation