How can a surface feature tell you about a surface process?

Answer 1

Imagine you are at the base of a volcanic mountain such that the peak has outcrops of Basalts.If you start moving uphill you notice sand grains then granules then pebbles then cobbles then boulders and lastly you reach the top.Analysing your observations you can tell that the basalts at the peak are undergoing physical weathering(Erosion).
Imagine you are in area rich in K-feldspar,but the area is characterised by normal rain and acid rain then you begin finding the mineral Kaolinite.You can conclude that K-feldspar is undergoing chemical weathering to form kaolinite.
Other examples i can give you,if you are in an area that has a fault then you observe that the fault inrease in width at the rate of 0.5cm/year,the you can conclude that the two land masses are subjected to tension.etc

Answer 2

Surface features, such as erosion patterns or sediment layers, can provide information about the processes that have shaped the surface over time. For example, the presence of deep, narrow channels may indicate significant water erosion, while smooth, rounded pebbles could suggest abrasion by wind or water currents. By analyzing these features, scientists can infer the types of processes that have influenced the surface dynamics.