Which theory is considered the foundation of modern Geology?

Uniformitarianism is the foundation of modern geology because it posits that the processes shaping the Earth today are the same processes that have operated throughout geological time. This principle was articulated in the 18th century by geologists such as James Hutton and later popularized by Charles Lyell. By advocating that the present is the key to the past, uniformitarianism encourages geologists to study contemporary geological processes to establish an understanding of historical geological events.

This perspective is crucial in interpreting rock formations, sedimentation patterns, and the appearance of fossils. For example, by observing how rivers carve valleys today, geologists can infer how similar processes may have shaped ancient landscapes over millions of years. The importance of this theory lies in its ability to provide a consistent framework for understanding Earth's history, thereby enabling predictions and analyses related to geological phenomena.

While catastrophism, which emphasizes sudden, short-lived, and dramatic events (like volcanic eruptions or asteroid impacts) as significant factors in Earth's history, played a role in shaping early geological thought, the approach gave way to the continuous and gradual processes highlighted by uniformitarianism. Similarly, plate tectonics and continental drift are essential concepts within geology that explain the movement of Earth's lithospheric plates and the historical arrangement of continents