An electrical resistivity survey of a lacustrine infilled basin in drift (Abbot Moss, N. England) clearly revealed the morphometry and internal structure of the basin. The technique also delimited extensions to the basin, which are buried beneath colluvium outside the present area of peat accumulation. Resistivity drilling has definite advantages over hand boring particularly for deposits formed between deglaciation and the onset of limnic sedimentation, or for sequences containing inpenetrable sand horizons. Geophysical techniques can provide an overall framework and gross stratigraphy of limnic deposits within which more detailed conventional Quaternary studies can be assessed.

This paper presents paleosol chronosequences from the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia, covering the last 35,000 yr. The changes in the morphology of the soils which developed in successive layers of volcanic ash reflect climatic changes and are correlated to the palynological studies of Van Der Hammen. Middle Pleniglacial soils are regarded as gleyed (Polylepis) forest soils formed under low evapotranspiration, and soils of the Middle/Upper Pleniglacial transition as humiferous (grassland) Paramo soils. An intervening arid erosion phase was followed by a humid and warmer period (Holocene) during which humiferous soils developed partly under forest, partly under grassland, but throughout under conditions of higher evapotranspiration.