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Earth's Time Travel: How to Understand 4.5 Billion Years of History through Rocks
As we explore Earth's past, Geological Time Scale presents a spectacular historical picture of how our planet has changed and developed over 4.5 billion years. This vast time frame is built upon the record in rocks, through which we can trace the story of the Earth like turning the pages of an ancient book.
The geological journey through time is not only a discovery of precious natural history, but also a re-examination of life itself.
The Geological Time Scale (GTS) is a representation of time based on the Earth's rock record. It uses two major scientific methods, chronostratigraphy and geochronology, to describe the timing and interrelationships of geological events. This system is mainly used by earth scientists, including geologists, paleontologists, geophysicists, geochemists and paleoclimatologists, to help them understand the formation and evolution of the Earth.
Since ancient times, people have begun to recognize the temporal significance of rocks. Philosophers and scientists as far back as ancient Greece have pondered how rocks change over time, but the modern development of a geological time scale is a relatively new undertaking.
Through analysis and observation of rock strata, scientists have discovered that the history of the Earth can be reconstructed through elements such as fossils, magnetic properties and rock characteristics.
The principles of establishing geological timescales are based on the observation of important changes between rock layers, which are often associated with major geological or paleontological events. For example, the Cretaceous-Paleocene extinction event defines the boundary between the "Paleocene system" and the "Cretaceous system". Through these levels of division, we can not only better understand the history of the earth, but also have a deeper understanding of the evolutionary process of organisms.
The geological time scale is divided into large units, from the Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic to the Phanerozoic, which are gradually subdivided into smaller units, such as "Generation", "Epoch", etc. The beginning and end of each stage correspond to certain specific geological or biological events.
Important Principles
Some important principles that geologists apply in this system include:
- Law of Stratigraphy: In an undisturbed sequence of strata, the oldest strata are at the bottom and the newest strata are stacked above them.
- Original Horizontal Principle: Sediments should initially be deposited horizontally under the influence of gravity.
- Principle of lateral continuity: Sedimentary layers extend laterally in all directions until they become thinner or are cut by other rock layers.
- Cutting relationship principle: If one rock cuts through another rock, then its formation time must be later than the rock being cut through.
Understanding these principles helps geologists precisely locate rocks and the geologic time they represent.
Division of geological time
The division of the geological time scale is not only simple but also structured. From the largest level, the Hadean, to the smallest, the Epoch, each level records specific geological events and their interrelationships. In the latest division, the Phanerozoic can be divided into ten eras, which represent the evolving biota and ecological environments.
The process of understanding the earth
The history of the earth is presented through the tool of geological time scale, and the knowledge possessed by human beings is gradually enriched through continuous exploration and research. From ancient philosophers to modern scientists, the development of this field shows that mankind has a keen interest in time and the earth.
These rock and fossil records are not only the history book of the earth, but also the witness of the evolution of life.
Conclusion
Through the study of rocks, the 4.5 billion-year history of the Earth is revealed, guiding us in our quest for predictions and understanding of the future. When we look up at the starry sky and think about the meaning of life and civilization, we can't help but ask: How many secrets are yet to be revealed in this long geological history?
