Final answer:
Landscape degradation through weathering, erosion, and transportation will ultimately reduce the landscape down to its base level, typically near sea level, where the erosive power of water diminishes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The processes of weathering, erosion, and transportation are key elements in the continuous shaping of Earth's landscapes. Over time, these processes contribute to the wearing down of a landscape to its base level, which is the lowest level to which it can naturally be eroded. This is generally at or near sea level, where rivers and streams level off and can no longer erode their beds effectively due to lacking the gravitational energy necessary to do so. When considering a lowstand, we refer to periods when the relative sea level is low and features such as the continental shelf become exposed, leading to the formation of extensive deltas that transport sediment into deeper marine basins.
In the lithosphere, water acts as a crucial agent of weathering, breaking down rock into smaller fragments and then soil, which can then be transported to different locations. Erosion, driven by water, ice, or wind, further shapes the landscape by carving out valleys, cliffs, and beach coastlines.
Human activities can also affect the erosion process. For instance, in the Western Australian wheatbelt, the removal of native vegetation has led to a rise in groundwater levels, bringing salt to the surface and altering both the landscape and its productivity.