Abstract

JASSO, Carolina; SEDOV, Sergey; SOLLEIRO, Elizabeth  and  GAMA, Jorge. Paleosoil development as an index of landscape stability: An example from Central Mexico. Invest. Geog [online]. 2002, n.47, pp.20-35. ISSN 2448-7279.

This study, in a first approximation, shows that the characteristics of soil and subsystems comprising landscape may provide knowledge on past ecosystems and their spatial distribution. Therefore, they may also be used as Indicators of short or long landscape stability periods, this application is based on the assessment of the time taken for the formation of a given soil diagnostic property at various temporal scales. This article presents an analysis of Pleistocene paleosoils of the Nevado de Toluca volcano, aimed at identifying the different periods of volcanic stability through several Indices obtained from the properties chosen. Findings indicate three basic pedogenesis types: i) short cycles in which only some Ah and AB horizons were formed, as evidences of several successive volcanic events that occurred along a period of 1000 - 2000 years and, consequently, of a greater instability; ii) moderate cycles which allowed the formation of Andosols and iii) prolonged cycles in which soils with Ah/ E/Bt/C profiles were formed, although they are currently beheaded. The estimated time that elapsed since its formation comprises 10 000 years, indicating significant stability periods where volcanic activity dropped.

Keywords : Paleosoils; landscape stability; pedogenesis.

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