The Study of Earth’s History By: Naomi Rojo, Dominic Nattell Rylee Miller, Liana Clark Mason Picek, Cayden Andreadakis

Key Concept Slow geologic processes and major catastrophic events have shaped Earth’s surface in the past and continue to shape Earth today.

Uniformitarianism Uniformitarianism is a principle that geologic processes that occurred in the past can be explained by current geologic processes.

Catastrophism Catastrophism is a principle that states that geologic change occurs suddenly.

Paleontology Paleontology is the scientific study of fossils.

The Early Study of Geology In 1788, James Hutton wrote Theory of the Earth. Hutton observed that rock is broken down into smaller particles. Hutton thought that in time, the new rock would be raised into new landform.

Modern Geology- A Happy Medium In the late 1900’s, scientist Stephen J. Gould challenged uniformitarianism. About 65 million years ago an asteroid hit and might have contributed to the disappearance of the dinosaurs.

Paleontology- The Study of Past Life Studying the rate of geologic change provides only part of the picture of Earth’s past. Scientist also use the organism that lived on Earth and the condition in which they lived. Paleontologists study fossils to see how the environment has changed. Fossils can be found in a rock layer in the desert or on a mountain peak.