Which of the following is an example of the principle of uniformitarianism?
A)It is not possible to know how Earth processes have changed over time;therefore,it is not possible to deduce how Earth's ancient landforms evolved.
B)The processes by which streams carve valleys at present are the same as those that carved valleys 500 million years ago.
C)Catastrophic events,such as major landslides,earthquakes,and volcanic episodes,are the primary drivers of geomorphological change.
D)The Earth's geological history is mostly uniform and homogenous,existing now as it mostly always has with the exception of minor recent changes.
E)Prior to written history,knowledge of Earth history is largely unknowable.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The principle of uniformitarianism states that the present is the key to the past, meaning that the processes that are occurring on Earth today are the same ones that have occurred in the past. Choice B aligns with this principle by stating that the processes that carve valleys in streams today are the same as those that carved valleys millions of years ago. The other choices either contradict or do not align with uniformitarianism.

Which of the Following Is an Example of the Principle