2.3 Gradualism And Catastrophism

Question 1

What is gradualism?

Answer 1

Idea by James Hutton
All landforms could be created by geological process over a slow period of time
This “deeptime” did not fit in with the bible view of 6000 years of history

Question 2

What is catastrophism?

Answer 2

Biblical view that all land forms created by sudden catastrophic events eg great flood

Question 3

Examples of geological processes and how long they take: meteorite

Answer 3

100 million years

Few seconds

Question 4

Supercontinent formation

Answer 4

Several million years

100s of millions of years

Question 5

Coastal landforms

Answer 5

Ongoing event

Several millions of years

Question 6

Mountain building - orogeny

Answer 6

Ongoing

10s of millions of years

Question 7

Landslides, mudflows

Answer 7

Regular events

Few hours

Question 8

River erosion

Answer 8

Ongoing event

100s to 1000s of years

Question 9

Volcanic eruptions

Answer 9

Regular event

Days to years

Question 10

Can gradualism and catastrophism both be right?

Answer 10

Both play a part
Generally rocks form slowly over long periods of time - gradualism
Catastrophic events punctuate slow accumulation with rapid rock forming processes

Question 11

What has the concept of deep time produced?

Answer 11

It has extended the age of the earth to about 4.6 billion years ago
Relevant authorities are Hutton, Joly, Kelvin, Holmes and Ussher (the Bible)