The atmosphere plays a great role in helping shaping the Rocky Mountains. Change in climate can have a great impact. For example, several thousand years ago when the Ice Age occured, the change in temperature caused snow to fall and glaciers to form, which in turn, caused much erosion and weathering to occur within the Rockies. As the weather began to warm again, most of the snow and and ice melted, becoming streams that would once again shape the mountains.
The atmosphere also plays a role in the type of species of animal and plant life that occupy the area of the park. As the climate changes, animals would need to adapt or migrate to a different location in order to live, and plants would either adapt or die.
