uniformitarian
Geology's steady advocate
Uniformitarian describes the geological principle that Earth's features formed through gradual, ongoing processes—erosion, sedimentation, volcanic activity—rather than sudden catastrophes.
The idea that the present is the key to the past shaped modern geology.
A uniformitarian explanation assumes the same natural laws operated throughout Earth's history: uniformitarian processes shaped the Grand Canyon over millions of years.
Study of rock layers
- deep timeImmense spans of Earth's history
- rock cycleContinuous transformation of minerals
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- erosionGradual wearing away
fossils · geochronology · plate tectonics · weathering · deposition · outcrop · strata · sedimentary
Proceeding by small additions
- cumulativeIncreasing by successive additions
- imperceptibleCannot be sensed
- progressiveFavoring reform and innovation
- steady-stateCondition of constant balance
long-term · accretion · step-by-step · millennial · eons · ages · patient · methodical
Unchanging rules of nature
- causationProduction of effects
- consistencyReliable adherence to standards
- regularityConsistent, predictable occurrence
- predictabilityCapacity to be anticipated
lawfulness · constancy · invariance · scientific method · observation · induction · parsimony · empiricism
Theory of sudden geological change
- biblical floodScripture's world-drowning event
- cataclysmViolent, large-scale disaster
- saltationMovement by bounds
- mass extinctionLarge-scale species elimination
sudden change · discontinuity · revolution · upheaval · abrupt
stratigraphy
Study of rock layers
- deep timeImmense spans of Earth's history
- rock cycleContinuous transformation of minerals
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
erosion · fossils · geochronology · plate tectonics · weathering · deposition · outcrop · strata · sedimentary · paleontology
incremental
Proceeding by small additions
- cumulativeIncreasing by successive additions
- imperceptibleCannot be sensed
- progressiveFavoring reform and innovation
steady-state · long-term · accretion · step-by-step · millennial · eons · ages · patient · methodical · time-dependent
natural laws
Unchanging rules of nature
- causationProduction of effects
- consistencyReliable adherence to standards
- regularityConsistent, predictable occurrence
predictability · lawfulness · constancy · invariance · scientific method · observation · induction · parsimony · empiricism · analogy
catastrophism
Theory of sudden geological change
- biblical floodScripture's world-drowning event
- cataclysmViolent, large-scale disaster
- saltationMovement by bounds
sudden change · mass extinction · discontinuity · revolution · upheaval · abrupt
uniformitariancatastrophic
Causing complete destruction
cataclysmic · punctuated · revolutionary · episodic · sudden