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Assignment No. 01
Subject: The Science of Global Challenges
Topic: Geologic History & Planetary Processes
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Geologic History
Geologic history is the study of the Earth's evolution over time, recorded in the
rock layers and fossils.
It tells the story of how continents have formed and drifted apart, mountains
have risen and fallen, and oceans have come and gone.
This vast history spans billions of years, divided into major eons, eras, periods,
and epochs. By studying these layers, we learn about past climates, the evolution
of life, and the forces that continue to shape our planet.
1. The Fiery Beginnings:
• Hadean Eon (4.56 billion - 4 billion years ago): Earth, a molten
ball, pummeled by meteorites. This fiery chaos laid the foundation for the
planet's crust.
2. The Birth of Oceans and Continents:
• Archean Eon (4 billion - 2.5 billion years ago): The first continents
emerge, oceans form, and the stage is set for the origin of life. Single-celled
organisms take their first tentative steps in this primordial soup.
3. A Continuously Shifting Puzzle:
• Proterozoic Eon (2.5 billion - 541 million years ago): Continents dance
across the globe, forming and splitting, eventually culminating in the
supercontinent Rodinia. Oxygen levels rise, paving the way for complex life
forms.
4. The Era of Visible Life:
• Phanerozoic Eon (541 million years ago - present): A vibrant explosion of
life unfolds. From the Cambrian "explosion" of diverse marine creatures to
the rise and fall of dinosaurs, this era boasts an unparalleled diversity of
organisms. Mammals eventually take the stage, culminating in the
emergence of humankind.
The geological timescale (GTS) is a 'calendar' of all of Earth's history,
descending chronologically from modern day to the formation of earth.
Planetary Processes
Planetary processes are the natural forces that shape the
physical planet.
These include:
Volcanism:
Volcanism is the eruption of molten rock from inside the Earth to the
surface. Volcanism occurs because of Earth's internal heat, and is
associated with tectonic processes and a part of the rock cycle.
Volcanic eruptions occur when molten lava reaches the surface of the
Earth.
Tectonism:
Tectonism is the process of deformation that produces the earth's
continents, ocean basins, mountains, folds, and faults. The
movement of the planet's crust, causing earthquakes, mountain
building, and continental drift.
Impact Cratering:
An impact crater is formed when an object like an asteroid or
meteorite crashes into the surface of a larger solid object like a planet
or a moon. To form a true impact crater, this object needs to be
traveling extremely fast—many thousands of miles per hour.
Erosion:
Erosion is the process where rocks are broken down by natural
forces such as wind or water. Or
Erosion is a natural process that involves the wearing away and
removal of rock, soil, or other materials from the Earth's surface
through the action of various external forces. These forces can
include water, wind, ice, and gravity. Erosion typically occurs in areas
where the Earth's surface is exposed to these forces without
adequate protection from vegetation or other forms of natural cover.
Deposition:
Deposition is the process by which sediments, such as soil,
sand, and rocks, are deposited or laid down by various
natural agents like water, wind, ice, and gravity. It is the
opposite of erosion. Deposition occurs when the transporting
capacity of these agents decreases, causing them to drop or
deposit the sediments they were carrying.
Space Weathering:
The physical and chemical changes that occur to the materials at the
surfaces of such airless bodies are collectively known as “space
weathering” and are mainly caused by impacts of meteorites,
micrometeorites, and galactic/cosmic and solar-wind particles, in the deep
vacuum of space.
References:
• https://www.studysmarter.co.uk/explanations/environme
ntal-science/physical-environment/geological-
processes/
• Principles of Geology (James Hutton, 1788)
• The Earth Through Time (Eldredge & Eldredge, 2009)
• U.S. Geological Survey (https://www.usgs.gov/
