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Rhizocarpon calibration curve for the Aoraki/Mount Cook area of New Zealand
Author(s) -
Lowell Thomas V.,
Schoenenberger Katherine,
Deddens James A.,
Denton George H.,
Smith Colby,
Black Jessica,
Hendy Chris H.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of quaternary science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.142
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1099-1417
pISSN - 0267-8179
DOI - 10.1002/jqs.926
Subject(s) - quantile , glacier , range (aeronautics) , population , calibration , metric (unit) , sample (material) , physical geography , geography , geology , mathematics , statistics , demography , physics , materials science , operations management , sociology , thermodynamics , economics , composite material
Development of Rhizocarpon growth curve from the Aoraki/Mount Cook area of New Zealand provides a means to assess Little Ice Age glacier behaviour and suggests approaches that have wider application. Employing a sampling strategy based on large populations affords the opportunity to assess which of various metrics (e.g. single largest, average of five largest, mean of an entire population) best characterise Rhizocarpon growth patterns. The 98% quantile from each population fitted with a quadric curve forms a reliable representation of the growth pattern. Since this metric does not depend on the original sample size, comparisons are valid where sample strategy must be adapted to local situations or where the original sample size differs. For the Aoraki/Mount Cook area a surface 100 years old will have a 98% quantile lichen diameter of 34.3 mm, whereas a 200‐year‐old surface will have a lichen diameter of 73.7 mm. In the Southern Alps, constraints from the age range of calibration points, the flattening of the quadric calibration curve and ecological factors limit the useful age range to approximately 250 years. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.