As understood by modern geologists,the principle of uniformitarianism implies that ____________.
A) Earth has always had the same basic appearance that it has today, with the distributions of ocean basins and continents identical to what we see today
B) igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks are uniformly mixed throughout the crust of Earth
C) physical processes observed today (such as erosion and volcanic eruption) have been active in the past and are responsible for the geologic history we see preserved in the rock record
D) physical processes observed today (such as erosion and volcanic eruption) have been occurring throughout Earth history at constant rates; for example, no eruption in geologic time would have been greater than the 1815 Tambora eruption

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The principle of uniformitarianism is based on the idea that the physical processes observed in the present have also been occurring throughout Earth's history and are responsible for the geologic record we see today. This means that the same types of processes that cause erosion and volcanic eruption today have been happening in the past, shaping the Earth over time. The principle does not imply that Earth has always looked the same as today, nor does it suggest that different types of rocks are uniformly mixed throughout the crust. It also does not imply that physical processes have occurred at constant rates throughout geological time.

As Understood by Modern Geologists,the Principle of Uniformitarianism Implies That