We will look at each of these and discuss their development. Each of the earth system's provides clues to landform development. Geology maps, climate maps, vegetation maps, and hydrological maps help us interpret landscape formation. This results in a fan-shaped deposits as the streams change flow around previously deposited material. A bajada is the coalescence of several alluvial fans.
Alluvial fans are common in arid environments.
As mesas are reduced by erosion they become buttes. Often a resistant layer, like sandstone, at the top protects less resistant layers below from erosion. Buttes are common in the American southwest. About 100 MYA this area was covered by an transgressive-regressive sea which deposited alternating layers of limestone. Some layers are more resistant than others.