Lichenometry to Predict the Age of Substratum at Indian Alpine Himalayan Area in Climate Change Perception

Abstract

The growth of circular lichen thalli on permanent substrata are widely used to measure the age of exposure of the substratum for long periods of time. The measurement of lichen thallus diameter and their correlation with the age of the substratum by geographers has applications in pollution monitoring and climate change studies. In addition, frequency size investigation can provide minimum dates for constructions built of lichen-covered materials, like walls, iron poles, graveyard stones, monuments. The lichenometry is able to measure the minimum age of substrata even in less than 500 years of exposure. We provide a comparative assessment of lichenometry in Indian Himalayan sites are provided together with a comparative global data. We document the growth rate of Xanthoria elegans, a native placoidiod lichen, at 0.108 to 0.225 mm per month from Jammu & Kashmir. The purpose of this communication is to present the current eminence of lichenometry studies in the area and their future prospect.