Lichenometric dating of landslide episodes in the Western part of the Polish Flysch Carpathians

Abstract

Landslides are common in the Polish part of the Flysch Carpathians. They are controlled mostly by lithology and tectonics of the bedrock and by climate. They are a major factor of slope transformation. Rock cliffs within deep landslides are overgrown with lichen thalli of the Rhizocarpon genus, so these cliffs may be dated using lichenometry. This paper presents the basics of lichenometry as well as its applications in geomorphological research in Poland and worldwide. Also presented are results of lichenometric dating of landslide–rockfall walls in the western part of the Polish Flysch Carpathians. The study helps to identify landslide episodes from historical times. The results obtained indicate that on the slopes studied there coexist several generations of landslide–rockfall forms of various age, including recent and active ones.