QQuestionGeology
QuestionGeology
What is catastrophism, who proposed it, and how did they propose this caused the layering of fossils in strata?
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Answer
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Step 1: Understand catastrophism and its proposal
Catastrophism is a geological theory that posits that the Earth's features, particularly the layering of fossils in strata, were formed due to sudden, extreme events such as floods or volcanic eruptions. This theory was proposed by Georges Cuvier, a French naturalist, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Step 2: Cuvier's proposal for catastrophism
Cuvier suggested that the Earth experienced a series of catastrophic events, each followed by a relatively rapid recovery period during which new species appeared. He based this theory on his studies of fossils, observing that certain layers of rock contained distinct sets of fossils, which seemed to indicate that these species had suddenly disappeared and been replaced by others.
Final Answer
Catastrophism is a geological theory that suggests the Earth's features, including the layering of fossils in strata, were formed due to sudden, extreme events. This theory was proposed by Georges Cuvier, who believed that global catastrophes, such as massive floods, caused mass extinctions and rapid speciation, resulting in the distinct layers of fossils seen in the geological record.
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