Uniformitarianism vs. Catastrophism

Uniformitarianism is the idea that Earth's features have formed gradually over long periods through consistent, natural processes like erosion and sedimentation—"the present is the key to the past." In contrast, catastrophism suggests that Earth's landscape was shaped primarily by sudden, short-lived events such as earthquakes or floods. While uniformitarianism emphasizes slow, steady change, catastrophism accounts for rapid transformations. Modern geology recognizes that both processes have played roles in shaping our planet’s surface over time.