Facies changes typically reflect changing sea level through time. Time Travel 4 1. If local tectonic uplift were to match the pace of the rising sea level, then in the rock record it would appear as if there was no change in either sea level or land elevation. If the rate of tectonic uplift were to exceed the pace of the rising sea level, there would appear to be a regression in the rock record. Describe several ways that oceanographic and climate conditions influence the formation of sedimentary rocks.
Water is the primary weathering agent on the Earth's surface.
Higher levels of precipitation lead to greater weathering and will result in more clastic sediment in the depositional basins. Increased weathering and rainfall also removes CO2 from the atmosphere where it can be incorporated into sedimentary rocks. Certain oceanographic conditions such as the strength and energy of the waves breaking in the marine area will also influence the formation of sedimentary rocks. In the ocean where the formation of biogenic rocks occur, temperature, nutrients, etc have a great influence on the distribution of organisms and on biogenic sediments. Chemical and physical factors can also play a role in forming things like evaporites.