Yellowstone Park, USA.
Changing patterns of geothermal activity have caused changes in the
landscape in the last few decades. These trees have died as a result of
new geothermal activity in the area where they grew. |
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Geomorphologists often explain
landscapes in terms of "Process Environments" within which landforms are
controlled by surface processes, and processes are controlled by the nature
of the environment. For example, the kinds of landforms that are created
in an area depend on whether glacial processes are possible, and whether
glacial processes are possibe depends on climate.
However, the environment does not remain the same over
time. For example, climate can change. When this happens, processes also
change, and different landscapes can develop. Today's landscape reflects
a complex history of changing processes in different environments over
a long period of time. The landscape shows evidence of past climates!
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