Question

1. explain how the effects of water within the genesee river basin (found on page 4 of student directions) occur at different spatial and temporal scales compared to the effects of water in the development of the many caves found in new york state’s allegheny plateau region (found on page 11 of student directions).

genesee river
spatial:

temporal:

allegheny plateau caves
spatial:

temporal:

Explanation:

To answer this, we analyze the spatial and temporal scales for water effects in both regions:

Genesee River Basin

• Spatial: The Genesee River basin covers a larger, more extensive area (e.g., river channel, floodplains, surrounding watershed) with water influencing broad landscapes (erosion, sediment transport, ecosystems) across multiple counties/geographic zones.
• Temporal: Effects occur over shorter timescales (e.g., daily/seasonal flow changes, annual flooding, short-term erosion/deposition cycles) due to river dynamics (runoff, precipitation-driven flow).

Allegheny Plateau Caves

• Spatial: Cave formation by water (dissolution of limestone) occurs at smaller, localized scales (within bedrock, individual cave systems, micro-environments like fractures) rather than a large basin.
• Temporal: Cave development is extremely slow, over millennia to millions of years, as water slowly dissolves rock (karst processes) and forms passages, requiring long-term geologic time.

Answer:

Genesee River

• Spatial: Water effects (erosion, flow, ecosystems) span a large river basin (watershed, floodplains, channel) across broad geographic areas.
• Temporal: Effects occur over short timescales (daily/seasonal flow, annual flooding, short-term erosion cycles).

Allegheny Plateau Caves

• Spatial: Water effects (karst dissolution) are localized to bedrock fractures and individual cave systems (smaller, confined areas).
• Temporal: Effects occur over long timescales (millennia to millions of years) as water slowly forms caves.