% pubman genre = article @article{item_2402768, title = {{Geochronological reconstruction of the Pleistocene evolution of the Sarre valley (France and Germany) using OSL and ESR dating techniques}}, author = {Cordier, St{\'e}phane and Harmand, Dominique and Lauer, Tobias and Voinchet, Pierre and Bahain, Jean-Jacques and Frechen, Manfred}, language = {eng}, issn = {0169-555X}, doi = {10.1016/j.geomorph.2011.12.038}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, year = {2012}, date = {2012}, abstract = {{This paper focuses upon the Pleistocene terraces of the Sarre River, a right bank tributary of the Moselle River (NE France and SW Germany) flowing through the Vosges Massif, the eastern Paris Basin and the Rhenish Massif. Recent research has allowed the recognition of 12 well preserved alluvial terraces (Sa1 youngest to Sa12 oldest) between the present floodplain Sa0 and + 120 m relative height. The youngest terraces were dated using Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL). A first chronological framework was also provided for older terraces by Electron-Spin-Resonance (ESR) dating. The ages range between the end of the Early Pleistocene and the last glacial{\textendash}interglacial cycle of the Late Pleistocene (ca. 1.1 Ma to 50 ka). Age ranges are consistent with the terrace elevation and stratigraphy, allowing correlation of the youngest terraces with established global climate cycles and with the younger terraces in the Moselle valley. In particular, an erosional period was recognised at the end of the Saalian, (end of MIS 6) suggesting that the terrace incision occurred at the cold-to-warm transition. This result contrasts with those obtained for the Moselle and Meurthe Rivers, where previous studies suggest that major incision took place at the beginning of the cold periods. The differences are attributed to a variable fluvial response to climate change which could relate to the presence or absence of glaciers in the upper catchment.}}, journal = {{Geomorphology}}, volume = {165{\textendash}166}, pages = {91--106}, }