Lichenometry

Abstract

Lichenometry is a technique that is widely used to assign minimum ages to stable, lichen-colonized rock surfaces. It is especially useful in alpine and arctic terrain, where other dating methods are unavailable but where lichen growth curves can be calibrated by repeated measurement of lichen growth or by traditional or statistical approaches. The origins of the technique as well as the assumptions, limitations, and strengths of various approaches to lichenometry are reviewed.