The researchers studied sedimentary layers in a specific area to understand how they were formed. They used data from seismic scans, well logs, and drill cores to analyze the types of sediment and how they were deposited. By looking at the size of particles and the types of minerals present, they figured out where the sediment came from. They found that the sediment layers were formed in different stages as the lake levels changed over time. The shore of the lake moved southward, leaving behind different types of deposits in various parts of the area. The findings help us understand how the landscape evolved in the past.