This is known as uniformitarianism: the idea that Earth has always changed in uniform ways and that the present is the key to the past. The principle of uniformitarianism is essential to understanding Earth’s history. However, prior to 1830, uniformitarianism was not the prevailing theory.

Gravity and erosion are major factors in changing the shape of the surface of Earth.

The Earth’s surface is constantly changing through forces in nature. The daily processes of precipitation, wind and land movement result in changes to landforms over a long period of time. Driving forces include erosion, volcanoes and earthquakes. People also contribute to changes in the appearance of land.

Uniformitarianism

Geologic processes are only similar in if they occur in the same area. Once a geologic process has shaped the Earth, it cannot be repeated. Geologic processes that shape the Earth are cyclical. Geologic processes are similar if occurring in the same time.

Deep ocean trenches, volcanoes, island arcs, submarine mountain ranges, and fault lines are examples of features that can form along plate tectonic boundaries. Volcanoes are one kind of feature that forms along convergent plate boundaries, where two tectonic plates collide and one moves beneath the other.

There are peaks, valleys, jagged edges, rolling hills, and everything in between. In general, we call these geological features, but this term is very broad and refers to any of the physical features on Earth’s surface. You might also hear them referred to as landscapes, topography, and landforms.

Geological Features, Events & Phenomena

• Caves.
• Deserts.
• Earthquakes.
• Glaciers.
• Tsunamis.
• Volcanoes.

Erosion produces geologic features such as valleys, canyons, river channels, bays, caves and cliffs. Geologic features created by the influence of tectonic forces include folds, which are bent or tilted layers in sedimentary rocks and faults that offset rock layers and fractures in rocks as well as mountains.

The hydrosphere (Earth’s water) is an important agent of geologic change. Water shapes our planet by depositing minerals, aiding lithification, and altering rocks after they are lithified.

Major geological events, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mountain building, result from these plate motions. Constructive forces include crustal deformation, volcanic eruption, and deposition of sediment, while destructive forces include weathering and erosion.

The geological processes, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, erosion, and deposition are what create or change geological features. Volcanoes are created by internal forces within the Earth that cause heated, melted rock (magma) to rise to the surface.

Living near an active volcano can be beneficial as well as dangerous. The soil is fertile, and a lot of volcanic products can be used in everyday life. In addition, the thermal energy from some volcanoes can be used to generate electric power. But if you live too close to a volcano—and it erupts—it can be lethal.

Volcanoes are classified as active, dormant, or extinct. Active volcanoes have a recent history of eruptions; they are likely to erupt again. Dormant volcanoes have not erupted for a very long time but may erupt at a future time. Extinct volcanoes are not expected to erupt in the future.

Eventually, when volcanoes have rafted away from the heat source, they falter and die. As the Earth’s crust moved, slowly but surely, over millions of years, the magma that was under old volcanoes in southeast Idaho ended up in Wyoming—under a big super volcano.

Even dormant volcanoes are becoming active and not only that, but also extinct volcanoes are coming back to life. An extinct volcano by definition is dead volcano, which has not erupted in the last 10,000 years and is not expected to ever erupt again.

Taal volcano (Philippines): fears of possible new eruption trigger evacuation of residents. Ongoing elevated seismic activity under the volcano sparked fears that the volcano, which had a massive, devastating eruption little more than a year ago, in January 2020, might erupt again in the near future.

Volcanic eruptions