 |
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|
|
|
|
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|
|
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|
| q |
Sediments are the major climate
|
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|
archive on Earth for over 99% of
|
|
|
geological time (and on all time
|
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|
scales), primarily as continuous
|
|
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|
sequences deposited by water.
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| q |
Rainfall and the runoff it produces
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|
erode rocks exposed on the
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|
continents and transport the eroded
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|
sediments in streams and rivers.
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| q |
The sediments are deposited in
|
|
|
quieter waters where layer upon
|
|
|
layer of sediments can be laid down
|
|
in undisturbed succession.
|
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| q |
For intervals before the last 170
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|
|
|
million years, all surviving
|
|
|
sedimentary records come from
|
|
|
continents.
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|
