Description
Understanding surficial processes and materials is critical for resource managers in mountainous terrain. Surficial processes such as landslides, floods, and glaciation directly impact the human use and management of rugged landscapes. The materials produced by these processes influence soil and vegetation patterns and provide information on geologic hazards, prehistoric landscape use, and ecological disturbance. Knowledge of the function of surficial processes and distribution of materials assists the National Park Service (NPS) in selection of ecological reference sites, identification of rare or threatened habitat, management of risk and cultural resources, and mapping of soils (Riedel and Probala 2005).
