Comment on Makó et al. Examination of Age-Depth Models Through Loess-Paleosol Sections in the Carpathian Basin. Quaternary 2025, 8, 55

This commentary re-evaluates the study by Makó et al. which reconstructs dust accumulation rates from loess–paleosol sequences in the Carpathian Basin. Several methodological and factual issues substantially limit the reliability of their interpretations. The study reports linear sedimentation rates (mm a−1) as mass accumulation rates (MARs) without accounting for bulk density, rendering their values non-comparable with established MAR datasets. It also overlooks a documented systematic bias between 14C and luminescence-derived MARs which are shown to differ by a factor of nearly three in Perić et al., a directly relevant synthesis that is not cited. Furthermore, the conflation of distinct sites (Surduk and Veliki Surduk) and the incorrect attribution of the Surduk section’s location indicate errors in basic site metadata. Together, these issues suggest that the reported “high accumulation axis” may reflect methodological artefacts rather than genuine environmental gradients. Improved methodological transparency and consistency are essential for robust regional reconstructions.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Quaternary
Published
2026-01-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/quat9010010
Primary Topic
Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Comment on Makó et al. Examination of Age-Depth Models Through Loess-Paleosol Sections in the Carpathian Basin. Quaternary 2025, 8, 55

Rastko S. Marković, Zoran M. Perić, Zoran M. Perić, Milica Bosnić
Quaternary
Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
article

Comment on Makó et al. Examination of Age-Depth Models Through Loess-Paleosol Sections in the Carpathian Basin. Quaternary 2025, 8, 55

Rastko S. Marković, Zoran M. Perić, Zoran M. Perić, Milica Bosnić
article en

Abstract

This commentary re-evaluates the study by Makó et al. which reconstructs dust accumulation rates from loess–paleosol sequences in the Carpathian Basin. Several methodological and factual issues substantially limit the reliability of their interpretations. The study reports linear sedimentation rates (mm a−1) as mass accumulation rates (MARs) without accounting for bulk density, rendering their values non-comparable with established MAR datasets. It also overlooks a documented systematic bias between 14C and luminescence-derived MARs which are shown to differ by a factor of nearly three in Perić et al., a directly relevant synthesis that is not cited. Furthermore, the conflation of distinct sites (Surduk and Veliki Surduk) and the incorrect attribution of the Surduk section’s location indicate errors in basic site metadata. Together, these issues suggest that the reported “high accumulation axis” may reflect methodological artefacts rather than genuine environmental gradients. Improved methodological transparency and consistency are essential for robust regional reconstructions.

QuaternaryVol. 9(1)
Silesian University of Technology (PL), Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (RS), University of Nis (RS), University of Novi Sad (RS), Lund University (SE), University of Montenegro (ME)
Openalex Percentile: Top 80%
Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.