The Dnepr was one of the rivers considered by Smalley et al(2009) in their review of 'Rivers & Loess'. It is the main river of Ukraine. It is essentially flowing from north to south, so it is/was transporting material in a southerly direction. The implication is a northern origin for loess material.
The Dnepr debouches into the Black Sea, as does the Danube. In the context of world rivers relative to loess a simple classification might be into (1) rivers that start in high mountains and deliver, eventually, mountain loess [with possible desert interludes], (2) rivers that start in glaciated terrain and deliver glacially produced loess material. The Dnepr is in class 2, as are the Volga and the Don.
The Dnepr delivers a 'purer' form of glacial loess than the Mississippi/Missouri system which, in the case of the younger deposits, contains mountain material from the Rockies. The mountain system delivers loess in a much more continuous manner than the glacial system which is perforce extremely episodic.
The Dnepr may be the most significant river with respect to the delivery of glacial loess; it makes a nice contrast to the Danube. The idea of the Danube as a 'loess river' has gained currency. Particle sources have been recognized, transport paths identified and deposition zones demarcated- an edifying and satisfactory picture develops. Now, can we do something similar for the Dnepr? We possibly need the Dnepr as a default glacial loess river; the Danube can serve in a similar position as the mountain loess river.
Smalley, I.J., O'Hara-Dhand, K., Wint, J., Machalett, B., Jary, Z., Jefferson, I.F. 2009. Rivers and loess: the significance of long-river transportation in the complex event sequence approach to loess deposit formation. Quaternary International 198, 7-18.
The Dnepr debouches into the Black Sea, as does the Danube. In the context of world rivers relative to loess a simple classification might be into (1) rivers that start in high mountains and deliver, eventually, mountain loess [with possible desert interludes], (2) rivers that start in glaciated terrain and deliver glacially produced loess material. The Dnepr is in class 2, as are the Volga and the Don.
The Dnepr delivers a 'purer' form of glacial loess than the Mississippi/Missouri system which, in the case of the younger deposits, contains mountain material from the Rockies. The mountain system delivers loess in a much more continuous manner than the glacial system which is perforce extremely episodic.
The Dnepr may be the most significant river with respect to the delivery of glacial loess; it makes a nice contrast to the Danube. The idea of the Danube as a 'loess river' has gained currency. Particle sources have been recognized, transport paths identified and deposition zones demarcated- an edifying and satisfactory picture develops. Now, can we do something similar for the Dnepr? We possibly need the Dnepr as a default glacial loess river; the Danube can serve in a similar position as the mountain loess river.
Smalley, I.J., O'Hara-Dhand, K., Wint, J., Machalett, B., Jary, Z., Jefferson, I.F. 2009. Rivers and loess: the significance of long-river transportation in the complex event sequence approach to loess deposit formation. Quaternary International 198, 7-18.
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