Discuss the application of absolute dates to the relative Geologic Time Scale. What are the limitations of this application? What will be an ideal response?


The student should discuss how the original Geologic Time Scale was developed in the 17th
and 18th centuries before the development of radiometric dating. Hence, relationships were
based on relative ages and not absolute ages. Radiometric dating allowed the later application
of absolute age dates to this time scale. However, changes are occasionally made to the
present-day Geologic Time Scale because new data allow more precise determination of the
boundary ages.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences