Which landforms in temperate regions provide evidence that climate has varied over time?

• A. Landforms carved by glaciers
• B. Coral reefs in inland areas
• C. Folded mountain belts
• D. Desert pavement features

Answer: (A)

Glacial landforms in temperate regions capture the record of climate changes over time. When cold periods prevail, large glaciers advance and scour the landscape, carving features like U-shaped valleys and fjords. As the climate warms, those glaciers retreat, leaving behind telltale deposits such as moraines, drumlins, and different till layers. Each set of features marks a different stage in the glacial cycle, so collectively they show how climate has varied.

Other options describe formations driven by processes that aren’t direct records of climate fluctuations. Coral reefs inland would require unusual conditions for reef growth away from the sea and don’t reliably document climate cycles in temperate land. Folded mountain belts form mainly from tectonic forces pushing rocks together, not climate changes. Desert pavement reflects long-term aridity and wind action, not the glacial–interglacial swings that shape temperate landscapes.