Key points for Chapter 1 Intro to Geology
1. Historical versus physical geology- Consider the following ideas: a volcano is about to erupt and
did volcanic eruptions cause the extinction of the dinosaurs? Which is a topic for a historical
geologist and which for a physical geologist?
2. James ___Hutton__ is the Father of Modern Geology and developed the idea called
____Uniformitarianism__ which can be summarized as “the present is the key to the past.”
3. _____Catastrophism______ was developed by James Ussher (1600s) and states that geologic
events happen very rapidly. His ideas were based on the thought that the earth was only a few
thousands of years old.
4. ____Scientific Method___ – a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since
the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the
formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
a. An initial interpretation of data is called a ____Hypothesis_______
b. A thoroughly tested hypothesis may become a __Theory/Law__
5. Earth’s spheres –
a. __Biosphere___ – consists of all life on earth
