Final answer:
The altitudinal difference between the highest and lowest points in an area is known as relief, which impacts local climate, soil erosion rates, and vegetation patterns due to factors like sun exposure and water runoff.
Step-by-step explanation:
The altitudinal difference between the highest and lowest points in an area is known as relief. Relief reflects the variations in elevation and can greatly influence local climates, soil formation, and patterns of vegetation. In steep areas, for example, there's typically more soil erosion, less water infiltration, and hence, thinner soils as compared with flatter terrains. Sun exposure based on directional slope also affects local climates which, in turn, impacts the characteristics and fertility of the soil. For instance, south-facing slopes in the northern hemisphere receive more sunlight and are warmer, altering the moisture content and types of vegetation that can thrive there.Relief is an important factor in defining the local soil environment, shaping weathering and mixing of the soil’s parent material over time, eventually affecting the development of soil horizons. High relief in mountainous areas, for example, can lead to different climate zones along the altitude gradient, affecting ecological biodiversity and soil horizons development.