Geobotanical assessment in the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains and Himalaya

Vegetation patterns and dendrochronology were used to study landforms and processes in three unique geographic areas. Specifically, we report on geobotanical associations related to forest fires, slope failures, rivers, and glaciers. The work was conducted in the Niobrara valley of the Great Plains of Nebraska, Tensleep Canyon of the Bighorn Mountains, Yellowstone Teton fire areas of the Snake River drainage in Wyoming, and the Nanga Parbat and Batura areas of the western Himalaya. Results indicate that geobotanical associations can be used to provide additional information to study landforms, natural hazards, and sediment yields. In addition, geobotany can be used to detect processes responsible for environmental change. Remote sensing technology can play an important role in detecting vegetation distributions and green biomass variations.