Determining paleosol topography using seismic refraction

The seismic refraction reversed profiling technique has been used to investigate the topography of the last interglacial soil (paleosol S1) within the central Chinese Loess Plateau near Xifeng. The results suggest an essentially flat-lying soil at a depth which varies by only a few meters over an area of more than 10 km². In addition, the results indicate a high-velocity layer at 50-60 m depth which is thought to coincide with a layer of carbonate concretions at the base of paleosol S5. The results agree well with the local loess-paleosol stratigraphy for this area and indicate that the seismic refraction method is a rapid technique for investigating paleotopography.