Which of the following topography is also called 'degradational plain' in desert?

Question

Accepted Answer

Pediments are correctly referred to as 'degradational plains' in desert environments because they are gently sloping, erosional surfaces formed by the gradual wearing down (degradation) of bedrock. The process involves the retreat of a mountain front or escarpment due to weathering and erosion, leaving behind a smooth, gently inclined surface at its base. This surface is primarily formed by the removal of material, hence the term "degradational." The resulting plain-like feature is the pediment.

Here's why the other options are incorrect:

1.  **Badland:** Badlands are characterized by highly dissected terrain with intricate networks of gullies and ridges. They are formed by rapid erosion of soft sedimentary rocks and are not gently sloping plains. While badlands are erosional features, they don't fit the description of a "degradational plain" due to their rugged and uneven topography.

2.  **Bahada:** A bahada is a gently sloping depositional surface formed by the coalescing of alluvial fans at the base of a mountain range. It's built up by the accumulation of sediment, not by the removal of material through degradation. Therefore, it's not a "degradational plain."

3.  **Playa:** A playa is a shallow, ephemeral lake bed in a desert basin. It's a depositional environment where sediments and salts accumulate after occasional flooding. While playas are flat, they are formed by deposition, not degradation, and are therefore not "degradational plains."