Dendrogeomorphology Beginnings and Futures: A Personal Reminiscence My early forays into dendrogeomorphology occurred long before I even knew what that word meant. I was working as a young geoscientist in the 1960s and early 1970s on a problem with slope movements and deformed vegetation. At the same time, unknown to me, Jouko Alestalo in Finland was doing something similar. Both of us had seen that trees which produced annual growth rings were reacting to g- morphic processes resulting in changes in their internal and external growth p- terns. Dendroclimatology was an already well established field, but the reactions of trees to other environmental processes were far less well understood in the 1960s. It was Alestalo (1971) who first used the term, dendrogeomorphology. In the early 1970s, I could see that active slope-movement processes were affecting the growth of trees in diverse ways at certain localities. I wanted to learn more about those processes and try to extract a long-term chronology of movement from the highly diverse ring patterns.

Dendrogeomorphology Beginnings and Futures: A Personal Reminiscence My early forays into dendrogeomorphology occurred long before I even knew what that word meant. I was working as a young geoscientist in the 1960s and early 1970s on a problem with slope movements and deformed vegetation. At the same time, unknown to me, Jouko Alestalo in Finland was doing something similar. Both of us had seen that trees which produced annual growth rings were reacting to g- morphic processes resulting in changes in their internal and external growth p- terns. Dendroclimatology was an already well established field, but the reactions of trees to other environmental processes were far less well understood in the 1960s. It was Alestalo (1971) who first used the term, dendrogeomorphology. In the early 1970s, I could see that active slope-movement processes were affecting the growth of trees in diverse ways at certain localities. I wanted to learn more about those processes and try to extract a long-term chronology of movement from the highly diverse ring patterns.

"Retreat of mountain glaciers ranks alongside sea level rise and extermination of species as one of the greatest threats posed by continued global warming. The authoritative picture painted in "Darkening Peaks" should help bring humanity to its senses and to spur the actions needed."--James E. Hansen, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies
"This important and timely book elucidates how glacier retreat is affecting physical, biological, and human systems simultaneously. The authors' perspectives from mountain regions worldwide provide key insights at both global and local scales."--Cynthia Rosenzweig, Earth Institute, Columbia University
"From an impressive range of disciplinary perspectives and geographic locations, Darkening Peaks provides a refreshing look at the real complexities involved with the causes and consequences of environmental change."--Roger A. Pielke, Jr., author of "The Honest Broker: Making Sense of Science in Policy and Politics"
"Glaciers play a major role in teaching us about our planet's past, and in warning us about its future. They inspire fear, awe, and fascination. Whatever your interest in glaciers, you will find this rich, broadly ranging volume exciting."--Jared Diamond, author of "Guns, Germs, and Steel" and "Collapse"
""Darkening Peaks" is a dazzling fusion of hard science, historical narrative, and cultural context that outlines social responses for coping with our changing environment."--Stephen H. Schneider, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
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