Geology as a "local" science

Abstract

Understanding and describing Earths history is one of geologys goals. Stratigraphy, the field of geology comprising our knowledge of the history of Earth and the life on the planet, has always searched for the places that best reveal the passing of historical time, such as it can be read by analyzing the rock record. In geology, such places establish a compulsory reference, as almost always reflected in the nomenclature employed. Most of the stratigraphic successions employed to define the units were described in the 19th century (the oldest ones cited here are from 1832). More detailed analyses of the chronostratigraphic scale have led to the establishment of the Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP), with the first definition dating from 1982. Geology is possibly the only science that must take into account the place where the knowledge was obtained and the place where it was further elucidatedas both have implications for any revision of the Earths history. Thus, Geology can truly be defined as a local science.