The term "origin" may have several different meanings. For example, when we talk about the 'origin' of a house, we may be referring to: - the wish to build
- the architectural plan.
- the source of financing.
- the method of construction.
- all of these.
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Similarly, when talking about the origin of a landform, we may be referring to:- the mechanism by which its shape was created (e.g., carved by running water; built up by the deposition of sediment; squeezed up by deforming forces).
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- Or else we may referring to a historical sequence of events that led to its formation (e.g., erosion of a preexisting landform to create loose sediment; transport and then deposition of that sediment to form a series of layers; transformation of those sediment layers to form layers of rock; the generation of forces within the earth that deform the rock layers; and finally, erosion of the deformed rock layers to create the shape that we see today).
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For the purposes of this course, we shall assign the simplest meaning to the phrase "origin of a landform": the last step in the historical sequence of events that led to the creation of the landform. That is, the mechanism by which its current shape was created. - For the 'origin of a house' example, that would mean construction
- For the landform example, that would mean the mechanism by which the surrent shape wasd achieved (in the sequence shown, the mechanism would be erosion).
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From your own experience, describe an example illustrating both the 'historical' meaning of 'origin' and the meaning of origin as used in this course.
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