Meanings
- uncountablearchaeologyA geomorphic method of geochronologic dating that uses lichen growth to determine the age of exposed rock.
In lichenometry, a lichen is presumed to grow radially at a specific, constant rate: this rate is used to estimate the age of the largest lichen on a rock surface, and thus the length of time the rock has been exposed.
3 more examples
The sophistication of approach to lichenometry has increased markedly in the last decade or two.
2004, Jean M. Grove, Little Ice Ages: Ancient and Modern, Volume 1, 2nd edition, Taylor & Francis (Routledge), page 7Lichenometry is a surface-exposure dating method that uses lichen-growth rates to infer the age of young ([a] few thousand years old or younger) glacial landforms, typically bouldery deposits such as moraines.[…]Several approaches have been employed to measure lichens, and a distinct advantage of lichenometry over other techniques is its simplicity (Bradwell, 2009).
2011, Jason P. Briner, “Dating Glacial Landforms”, in Vijay P. Singh, Pratap Singh, Umesh K. Haritashya, editors, Encyclopedia of Snow, Ice and Glaciers, Springer, page 177Lichenometry is a dating method which is based upon the direct relationship between lichen diameter and age.
2012, Matti Saarnisto, “I.4: Time-scales and dating”, in B. Huntley, T. Webb III, editors, Handbook of vegetation science, Volume 7: Vegetation history, Kluwer Academic, page 102
Origin
Translations
Dutch lichenometrie
- lichenometriegeochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
French lichénométrie
- lichénométriegeochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
German Lichenometrie
- Lichenometriegeochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
Italian lichenometria
- lichenometriageochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
Norwegian lichenometri
- lichenometrigeochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
Polish lichenometria
- lichenometriageochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
Portuguese liquenometria
- liquenometriageochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
Swedish lichenometri
- lichenometrigeochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
Welsh cenfetreg, cenfesureg
- cenfetreggeochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
- cenfesureggeochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
- dyddio cengeochronologic dating method that uses lichen growth
Cite this entry
lichenometry. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lichenometry
“lichenometry.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lichenometry. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lichenometry,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lichenometry.
Source: lichenometry on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.