A ________ describes the observation of successive changes in a laterally continuous sedimentary layer that are visible and are interpreted as a result of many depositional processes taking place over a large area.

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The term that best fits the definition provided is "facies." Facies is a term that geologists use to describe a laterally continuous sedimentary deposit that appears different from those deposits above and below it. These changes in appearance may be a result of different depositional processes, meaning that different processes could have been occurring in different areas of the depositional environment. Therefore, observing these successive changes (or "lateral variations") in the appearance of a sedimentary deposit can help geologists understand the different processes that took place over a large area.

A ________ Describes the Observation of Successive Changes in a Laterally