Earth's Surface Evolution: Catastrophism vs. Uniformitarianism
Catastrophism and uniformitarianism are two contrasting processes that have shaped Earth's surface over time. Catastrophism involves sudden, violent events like volcanoes and earthquakes, while uniformitarianism relies on gradual processes such as erosion. Geologists study these processes to understand how the Earth's features have changed slowly or suddenly, providing insight into its geological history.
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CATASTROPHISM AND UNIFORMITARIANISM Processes that change Earth s Surface
CATASTROPHISM Formation of Earth series of large, violent, quick, worldwide upheavals changed the earth greatly and produced mountains, valleys, and various other large scale features In changing Earth s surface once in a while, sudden and widespread catastrophes would hit the planet and wipe out a number of species. These catastrophes were natural events, like volcanoes, earthquakes, and floods, and they would also change Earth s landscape.
MT. ST. HELENS Mt. St. Helens http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNTeOjo5Cvs
UNIFORMITARIANISM Formation of Earth Geologists found that features of Earth changed slowly over long periods of time, they called it gradualism, also known as uniformitarianism. gradual processes (such as for example the slow erosion of the coast by the impact of waves) shaped the geologic record of the earth over an immensely long period of time In changing Earth s surface the acting processes were the same as those that we see in action at present (rivers, volcanoes, waves, tides etc.) extremely rare (and catastrophic) events, such as the impact of large meteors, may have had a profound influence on our planet.
EXIT SLIP Give a three word description of uniformitarianism. Give a three word description of catastrophism. How do these geoscience processes change Earth s surface over time?
QUOTE #1 All geological formations from the mountains, to the thousands of feet of rock beneath your feet, to the coal and oil deposits in the ground were all formed slowly over millions of years of gradual sedimentary deposition.
QUOTE #2 Throughout its formation, the earth was battered, heated, cooled and scarred. Through the experience of continuous natural disasters, the earth took its present day shape and form.
QUOTE #3 The present is the key to understanding the past
QUOTE #4 Slow, gradual, natural events transpiring today occurred just like this in the past in the formation of the structures of the earth.
QUOTE #5 Earth appears the way it does because of sudden, large-scale major ordeals that have sculpted it s features quickly through cataclysmic events.
