LOESS OF SERBIA—FROM PALEOCLIMATE TO WINEYARDS

Loess is a buff colored, clastic sedimentary rocky of eolian origin without stratification and laminations where the silt particles predominates (beside clay and sand). Gentle lithification with carbonate bonds makes them highly sensitive to water impacts which dissolute this rock. Its vertical breaking made steep slopes. Loess in the sedimentary record deposits are not homogenous sediments, but most contain paleosols or sand horizons which we denominated loess series or loess-paleosol sequences. In Serbia loess series are the most widespread eolian sediments on which the high quality chernozem-like soils are formed. It qualifies as parent rock the premium arable land and wineyards. According to the relief characteristics in the landscape we can distinguish plain loess and slope loess. Based on CaCO 3 content the most of Serbian series belongs to the classic loess series while in the Morava valley at a few places we can found a non-carbonated loess series. Only at Stari Slankamen (Koševac) we can found Lower Pleistocene loess at the other places the young part of Middle Pleistocene or just the Upper Plesitocene loess series are preserved in the sedimentary record. Loess series serve as a record of past climates and environmental conditions. Key aspects of loess and paleoclimate studies include stratigraphy and cyclicity deposits often show distinct layering that corresponds to different climatic periods. Within loess series, paleosols can provide additional information about past climates. The timing of loess deposition often correlates with glacial and interglacial cycles. Loess series can contain various proxies for past climates, such as mollusks, which provides information about past biotope proxies. Analysis of loess can help reconstruct past wind patterns and dust transport routes, offering insights into changes in atmospheric circulation and climate systems over time. The importance of loess studies help reconstruct past environments dynamics and climate conditions, providing a context for understanding past climate variability and change. Data from loess deposits can improve climate models by providing empirical evidence of past climate conditions, which helps refine predictions about future climate changes. Loess deposits have influenced human history by shaping agricultural practices and settlement patterns.