Are Terra rossa soils in Europe eolian deposits from Africa?

Abstract

Recent studies of dust storms from drylands in Sahara and surroundings have shown that African soil dust in quantities of more than 100 million tons is blown westwards each summer over the Atlantic. The transport of eolian dust northwards across the Mediterranean is more irregular and smaller in amount than the Afro-atlantic dust plumes. Increasing evidence from studies of contemporary African eolian dust fallout in Israel and Italy, combined with observations in satellite images is the basis of the hypothesis that Terra rossa soils of south Europe may be the result of long-time eolian deposition of dust from Africa, and not created by residual weathering of the underlying bedrock. Possible locations to check the hypothesis of eolian origin are Terra rossa deposits in karst pockets of hard limestone in mountains of south Europe, particularly at elevations affected by Pleistocene nivation processes. A locality of this type in south Spain is described.

Key Words:

• Terra rossa
• dust storms
• Saharan dust
• south Europe
• karst pockets
• Pleistocene nivation
• Quaternary loess
• N3640
• N3640
• E0505
• E0505