Activation of fixed dune massifs: Cause and probability of renewal

Eolian dunes were common on the East European Plain in Late Glacial time and in the early Holocene. During the middle Holocene, however, a noticeable increase in rainfall resulted in most being fixed by vegetation and became inactive. Studies of dune fields in the Oka and Klyazma drainage basins revealed presence of humified horizons and clusters of charcoal within the dune sands, which suggests dune activation during the late Holocene. Secondary activation of the dune could be attributed to vegetation disturbance by human activities, though forest fires may contribute to the process.