Loess in Russia II: Trofimov in Europe

Another sketch map- this one from V.T.Trofimov's 2001 book on Loess. This really is a simple map but its a very satisfactory map. That large patch of loess is called the USWR loess, its region J1 on the Jefferson classification of loess in the Soviet Union. This by far the largest and most important patch of loess in the region that was the Soviet Union. Here the great problems of hydrocollapse and subsidence were encountered- just there by Rostov-on-Don was the Atommash factory where one of the classic subsidence failures occurred.
The J1 loess is glacial loess; this really is glacial loess- the particles made by continental glaciers- and then distributed by the rivers Dnepr, Don & Volga; all nicely shown. In the region were the great loess research institutes at Kiev, Dneprpetrovk and Moscow.  In this region (just to the NW) the ideas about Russian loess were shaped- at Leningrad, by Dokuchaev and Berg.

Here is the Black Earth- the default chernozem- the last great hope of Mankind. The FAO has estimated that in Eurasia about half of the chernozem soils remain to be exploited; we shall have enough to eat for a few more years. Chernozem forms in loess; parent material is more important than climate; Berg believed the opposite- in some places the discussion is still going on..