Which term describes a significant change in the landscape resulting from the uplift of an area?

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The term that describes a significant change in the landscape resulting from the uplift of an area is isostatic rise. This phenomenon occurs when the Earth's crust adjusts vertically due to changes in surface loads, such as the melting of ice sheets or a decrease in sediment weight. When these loads are lifted, usually following glacial melting, the previously compressed crust begins to slowly rise back to its original position, causing noticeable alterations to the landscape over time.

Isostatic rise can lead to the formation of new landforms and influences the hydrology and ecosystem of the area as well. It is particularly significant in regions that were once covered by large ice sheets, where the land is still adjusting to the absence of that weight after the ice has melted.

The other terms, while related to geological processes, do not specifically refer to uplift. Subsidence involves the sinking or settling of the ground, erosion refers to the removal and transportation of soil and rock by wind, water, or ice, and weathering is the process of breaking down rocks through various physical or chemical means. Hence, isostatic rise is the appropriate term linked to landscape changes due to uplift.

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