The cross sections below represent three bedrock outcrops found several kilometers apart.
which statement best explains why the volcanic ash layers are useful for correlating the relative ages of the
bedrock in the three outcrops?
(1) the ash was deposited over a large area when a volcano erupted.
(2) there are no fossils found within the volcanic ash.
(3) the volcanic eruptions that produced the ash layer occurred over a long period of geologic time.
(4) the volcanic ash is found between many different layers of bedrock.

After looking at the cross sections in the photo you posted of the three bedrock outcrops, I can give you a correct answer to the question. The statement that will explain why the volcanic ask layers are good for correlating the ages in the three outcrops is that the ask was deposited over a large area when a volcano erupted in the past. You can see in the picture that there is fossils, you can see that there are not ask found between many of the layers of bedrock and the you can also see from the picture that it didn't occur over a long period of geologic times. This is why you can be sure that the 1st statement is the correct statement, by ruling out all the other choices. The correct choice is number 1. 

Water flows along the east coast and across the western tropical pacific towards south america, while they both are directed towards that way,  el niño does not directly affect the southern flow of water along the coast.