Earth Sciences 2240F/G Midterm: Exam Notes
Document Summary
Scientist"s view of terrestrial and extra-terrestrial processes which have resulted in devastating consequences to life on earth. Prior to modern times our knowledge of these events were confused and misguided. All natural disasters deal with two possible energy sources. Responsible for processes that lead to earthquakes, tsunami and volcanic eruptions. Responsible for hurricanes, climate change and asteroid impacts. Everyone starts with one or more observation and then forms a hypothesis. Over time observations will test that hypothesis to either suggest it is right or wrong. Eventually a theory will be produced from the tested hypothesis. Testing of these theories will never change. As long as all the tests pass the theory can be used to make predictions of the end-result of the process being examined. After a very long time of successful testing a theory can become a law. As soon as one observation proves a theory to be wrong it is back to square one.