What is the principle of uniformitarianism, and can it be used to predict the future?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The principle states that observations of both a process and its result can apply to the interpretation of other, similar results where the process was not observed. In other words, if you can understand the geologic processes that are responsible for materials and features you presently see in nature or in the laboratory, then you can infer that similar materials and features found in ancient rocks and landscapes are the result of these same processes. If uniformitarianism guides interpretation of geologic history, then can it also be used to forecast future events? In a general way, yes, because scientists infer that the same natural processes operating today operated in the past and will operate in the future. This does not mean, however, that scientists can predict exactly when or where a geologic event will occur. For example, geologists can study the behavior of past eruptions of a volcano by observing the resulting lava flows and layers of volcanic ash, and then hypothesize that future eruptions will feature similar behaviors. This application of uniformitarianism does not, however, mean that the time and severity of the next eruption can be forecast far in advance.