Endolithic lichens, rapid biological weathering and Schmidt hammer R-values on recently exposed rock surfaces : Storbreen glacier foreland, Jotunheimen, Norway

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

MATTHEWS, J.A.

Dept. of Geography, School of the Environment and Society, Univ., Swansea, Royaume-Uni

OWEN, G.

Dept. of Geography, School of the Environment and Society, Univ., Swansea, Royaume-Uni

Description :
The aim of this paper is to investigate the rate of biological weathering in the earlier stages, on more recently exposed surfaces, including moraine ridges that were deposited by the glacier in the 1980s and 1990s. This study demonstrates the reduction in Schmidt hammer R-values that followed the rapid colonization by this endolithic lichen of pyroxene-granulite boulders on terrain deglaciated over the last 88 years on the Storbreen glacier foreland, Jotunheimen. The rapid rate of biological weathering reported in this study itself offers possibilities for a new method of phytometric dating for very young rock surfaces.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Geografiska annaler. Series A. Physical geography, issn : 0435-3676, 2008, vol. 90, n°. 4, p. 287-297, nombre de pages : 11, Références bibliographiques : 62 ref.

Date :
2008

Editeur :
Pays édition : Suede, Stockholm, Svenska sällskapet för antropologi och geografi

Langue :
Anglais