The Red Desert of Santa Maria: Ancient Paleosols and Weathering
Rui Fagundes Silva
IVAR/CIVISA, Ponta Delgada, Portugal
Known as the "Red Desert," this area represents a unique geosite in the Azores. These are humid-climate paleosols (latosols) formed by the intense chemical weathering of volcanic ash and basaltic lavas. The reddish hue is due to the high concentration of iron oxides, providing a window into the island's paleoclimatic and geological evolution.
Reuse
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) (opens in a new window)Credit: Rui Fagundes Silva (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)
Properties
Type
Image
Format
JPG
Size
878.8 KB
Aspect
4:3
Width
3648 px
Height
2736 px
Brand
Canon
Model
PowerShot G11
Exposure
14 mm f/3.5 1/160 s ISO 160
Software
Adobe Lightroom
Coordinates
36.9995, -25.1227
Tint
Pinkish white
Submitted
6 April 2026
Taken
14 October 2016
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