What do features like graded bedding indicate in sedimentary rocks?

Graded bedding is a sedimentary structure characterized by a vertical change in particle size, often seen in layers where coarser materials are deposited at the bottom and finer materials are deposited on top. This phenomenon indicates changes in energy conditions during sediment deposition. When energy levels are high, larger particles can be transported and deposited; as conditions become calmer, finer particles settle out.

This relationship allows geologists to interpret past environmental conditions and infer the variations in energy within a depositional environment. Graded bedding is typically associated with events such as turbidity currents or storm deposits, where rapid changes in energy result in the sorting of sediments by size. Understanding these features is crucial for reconstructing historical climate and oceanographic conditions based on sedimentary records.