Geological Processes

Geologic Change Over

Time

4.1

Key Topics/Learning Goals

Geologic Change Over Time

The Rock Record

Earth’s Changing Climate

Define fossils

State the Principle

of

Uniformitarianism

Explain how
fossils supply
evidence of

geologic change.

Describe and

give evidence for
the movement of
continents over

time

List types of
evidence that

support that Earth’s
Climate has changed

over time.

Relate the composition

and texture of

sedimentary rocks to
the environment in

Describe the ways
organisms can be

preserved as

fossils

List examples of

trace fossils

​Uniformitarianism and Fossils

Key Vocabulary Lesson 1

Uniformitarianism - A principle that geologic processes that occurred in the
oe past can be explained by current geologic processes

Fossil - A tracf an ancient organism that has been preserved in rock.

Trace fossil - A type of fossil that provides evidence of the activities of
ancient organisms

Climate - Overall weather in an area over a long period of time

Ice Core - a drill core of ice that can help tell the climates of the past

State the Principle of Uniformitarianism

u·ni·form·i·tar·i·an·ism

Learn to pronounce
nounGEOLOGY

1.the theory that changes in the earth's crust during geological history have resulted from the action of continuous and uniform
processes.

Source: dictionary.com

Principles of Uniformitarianism…

Inactive Volcano

Active Volcano

Most Changes to the Earth have happened in the past and are continuing to happen today in the same way. These volcanoes are examples of this process.

Poll

A meteor striking the earth is an example of uniformitarianism…
Is this statement true or false?

• TRUE

• FALSE

Catastrophism

Catastrophism (kat-AHS-troh-fih-zuhm)

Noun

Theory that sudden, violent events have formed the shape of the Earth.

Catastrophism suggested the features seen on the surface of Earth, such as mountains, were formed by large, abrupt changes—or
catastrophes.

Define fossils / Describe the ways organisms can be preserved as fossils

How do animals become trapped in fossils?

Amber?

Tar pits?

How do animals become trapped in fossils?

Buried in rock

Frozen

Petrified

Define fossils / Describe the ways organisms can be preserved as fossils

Trace Fossils

Trace fossils are classified based on an organism’s shape and behaviors rather than on its physical form.

Walking with dinosaurs
“Walking with Dinosaurs” is easy to imagine in Denali. There are
so many dinosaur footprints in some areas that they have been
nicknamed “dinosaur dance floors”. These tracks help scientists
determine which animals were present, how many might have
traveled together, and the ages of different individuals (such as
mother with young). In addition, tail dragging marks have been
found that illustrate an animal’s body position when walking.

What is for dinner?
Trace fossils help to give us a seat at the ancient dinner table.
Probe marks in the ground near bird tracks imply that the birds
were using their beaks to dig for food. Invertebrate burrows found
in the same rocks likely provide the answer to what tasty food the
birds were eating. Coprolites, fossilized feces, can be compared
to modern scat to suggest the diet of ancient animals.

What can Fossils tell us?

The Glossopteris fossil is found in Australia, Antarctica, India,
South Africa, and South America—all the southern continents.
Now, the Glossopteris seed is known to be large and bulky and
therefore could not have drifted or flown across the oceans to a
separate continent. Therefore, the continents must have been
joined at least one point in time in order to maintain the
Glossopteris’ wide range across the southern continents.

Continental Movement

Landforms Change over time

Ice Core - a drill core of ice that can help tell the climates of the past

Key Topics/Learning Goals

Geologic Change Over Time

The Rock Record

Earth’s Changing Climate

Define fossils

State the Principle

of

Uniformitarianism

Explain how
fossils supply
evidence of

geologic change.

Describe and

give evidence for
the movement of
continents over

time

List types of
evidence that

support that Earth’s
Climate has changed

over time.

Relate the composition

and texture of

sedimentary rocks to
the environment in

Describe the ways
organisms can be

preserved as

fossils

List examples of

trace fossils

​Uniformitarianism and Fossils