Pedogenic Implications of a 14 C-Dated Paleopodzolic Soil at Haugabreen, Southern Norway

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Abstract
Radiocarbon dating of fractionated samples from the illuvial organic-rich (Bh) horizon of an in situ buried humo-ferric podzol has, along with dates obtained previously from its surface organic (FH) horizon, enabled the investigation of various aspects of podzolic soil genesis in an arctic-alpine environment. The dates suggest that the FH horizon began to accumulate before .apprx. 4500 yr BP, possibly shortly before .apprx. 5000 yr BP, with a major episode of organic matter illuviation commencing soon after this time. Age/depth relationships were examined in the FH and Bh horizons and their pedogenic implications discussed. Formation of the Fe-rich illuvial (Bs) horizon coincided in time with that of the Bh horizon and that both these horizons continued to develop up until the time of the Bh horizon and that both these horizons continued to develop up until the time when the profile became buried in situ beneath the outermost Neoglacial end moraine of Haugabreen, around A.D. 1750. The dating results are compared with those available from present-day podzolic soils in northwestern Europe to infer rates of pedogenesis under different environmental conditions. It is speculated that podzolization at the Haugabreen site was initiated by a deteriorating climate.

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