ES 4B - Geology, The Science

Geology

The study of the earth.

Early Geological History

Biblical history of the earth was accepted by most scientists until the 1700s.

James Hutton (1795)

Concluded the earth had to be very old due to uniformitarianism.

Uniformitarianism

Belief that earth-forming processes are natural, constant, and happen at a gradual rate.

Deep-Time View

The perspective that the earth is ancient, around 4.5 billion years old.

Young-Earth View

The perspective held by biblical creationists that the earth is around 7,000 years old.

Operational Geology

Studies geological events that are currently occurring through observation.

Historical Geology

Conclusions about the unobservable past are heavily influenced by a scientist's worldview.

Principles of Uniformity

State that nature is regular and predictable through cause and effect.

Nicolaus Steno

Developed four principles of geology still used today, based on creation and the biblical flood.