Old images record landscape change through time.pdfVIP

Old images record landscape characteristics. By examining cultural features and actions, we can infer how societal changes have shaped land- change through time scapes as well as how landscapes have shaped societies. Our approach is appli- Paul R. Bierman, pbierman@, Jehanna Howe, Department of Geology and cable over much of the past 200 years, Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA, providing a bridge between short-term Elizabeth Stanley-Mann, Michala Peabody, Jens Hilke, and Christine A. Massey, instrumental records and geologic tech- Department of Geology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA niques that are often more useful over longer time frames. The approach we lay out could easily be applied to dif- ABSTRACT active geomorphic force on the planet, ferent questions in a wide variety of Historical photographs are a powerful moving more mass every year than tectonic and climatic zones. tool for examining and understanding all other natural processes combined THE LANDSCAPE CHANGE the distribution of surficial proce