Quaternary environments on the Arabian Peninsula shifted between pronounced arid conditions and phases of increased rainfall, which had a profound impact on Earth surface processes. However, while aeolian sediment dynamics are reasonably well understood, there is a lack of knowledge with regard to the variability in the fluvial systems. Presented here are the findings from several locations within wadi drainage systems to the west of the Hajar Mountain (United Arab Emirates). The performance of Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating using a customised standardised growth curve approach is investigated, showing that this approach allows reliable determination of ages by reducing the machine time required. Three main periods of fluvial activity are observed at 160-135 ka, 43-34 ka and ca. 20 ka. Further ages fall into the latest Pleistocene and late Holocene. Interestingly, none of the ages coincide with major wet periods in SE Arabia, identified in stalagmites and by the deposition of lake sediments. It is shown that fluvial activity was partly contemporaneous (within the given time resolution) with phases of aeolian deposition and was almost continuously, but likely sporadically, during the Mid-Late Pleistocene. This highlights the need for regionally defined palaeoenvironmental records in order to fully understand the response of dryland systems to long-term climatic change.
Mueller, DanielaRaith, Kira Bretzke, KnutFülling, AlexanderParker, Adrian G. Parton, Ash Preston, Gareth W. Jasim, SabahYousif, EisaPreusser, Frank
Department of Social Sciences
Year of publication: 2022Date of RADAR deposit: 2022-09-27