Soil-landscape chronograms for pedochronological analysis

Pedochronology is defined as the sequence of soil changes over time in a given landscape. Integrated stratigraphical and paleogeomorphic analysis of soil-landscape systems can offer information on landscape history that provides a rational basis for further pedological and soil-geomorphological studies. To connect these aspects of research, a new scheme, called chronogram, is introduced in which geogenic and pedogenic events can be summarized.Soil-landscape chronograms have time on one axis and depict erosion, deposition and soil formation across a given landscape along the other axis. Using open and enclosed hillslope systems as examples, the construction of chronograms and their relations to other summarizing schemes are demonstrated. These schemes include Butler's K-cycle system, Bos and Sevink's site history scheme, the catena, the toposequence, the Nine Unit Land-surface Model, and Huggett's simulation model. Opportunities for further pedochronological analysis, using paleosols, authigenic and allogenic pedorelicts, are identified.