CHROMA CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ZHOUJIASHAN XIASHU LOESS PROFILE IN NANJING AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE

The study of Nanjing Xiashu loess in Zhoujiashan area suggests that Chroma parameters have significant correlation with other parameters of the loess. Brightness (L^*) increases with the organic content and Redness (a^*) has significant correlation with iron oxide content. Compared with the northwest China loess, Xiashu loess may have experienced stronger weathering. As the results, some conventional indicators used in loess cannot perfectly record the climate change and soil development in the Xiashu loess. However, the chroma parameters can become an accurate and sensitive potential alternative to record the environment change. In Zhoujiashan area, Both the brightness (L^*) and redness (a^*) are the sensitive response to environment changes. The response of Yellowness (b^*) to environment change is limited in this area.