"It is used primarily by Earth scientists (including geologists, paleontologists, geophysicists, geochemists, and paleoclimatologists) to describe the timing and relationships of events in geologic history."
The study of the history of Earth and its development over time, including the different eras, periods, and epochs.
Stratigraphy: The study of rock layers and their relative ages.
Radiometric Dating: The method of determining the absolute age of a rock or fossil by measuring the amount of radioactive decay of certain elements within it.
Fossils: Remains of ancient organisms that provide evidence of past life and the history of biological evolution.
Geological Time Scale: A system used to measure the life span of the Earth.
Geological Processes: Volcanism, tectonic activity and erosion are all factors that shape and alter the Earth's crust.
Plate Tectonics: The movement of the Earth's crust and continents due to the activity of tectonic plates.
Mass Extinctions: Periodic events characterized by the sudden loss of many species of plants and animals.
Paleoclimatology: The study of ancient climates and the factors that influence them.
Sea Level Change: Alterations in the position of the oceans relative to the continents.
Geochronology: The study of time in relation to the Earth's geological history.
Eon: The longest division of geologic time, covering billions of years. The current eon is the Phanerozoic, which began 541 million years ago and continues today.
Era: A unit of time spanning tens to hundreds of millions of years. The Phanerozoic Eon is subdivided into three eras: Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic.
Period: A subdivision of an era, characterized by specific fossils and geological events. The Paleozoic Era is divided into seven periods, the Mesozoic Era into three, and the Cenozoic Era into two.
Epoch: A division of a period, characterized by more specific geological events and changes in climate and environment. For example, the Tertiary Period is divided into five epochs.
Age: The smallest unit of geological time, representing a relatively short interval of time typically identified by specific species of fossil organisms. For example, the Pliocene Epoch is divided into several ages based on fossil evidence.
Chron: A subdivision of geological time that is defined by the magnetic polarity of Earth's crust at a certain time. Chrons can range from thousands to millions of years in duration.
Event: A specific geological event that marks a fundamental change in Earth's history, such as the formation of a major mountain range or the impact of a large asteroid. These events may span several geologic time periods.
Supercontinent cycle: A long-term cycle of the formation and breaking apart of supercontinents, such as Pangaea or Gondwana. These cycles can last hundreds of millions of years and have a significant impact on Earth's climate and evolution of life.
Glacial-interglacial cycles: Cycles of climate change marked by the advance and retreat of glaciers over the last 2.6 million years. These cycles are characterized by alternating periods of cold (glacial) and warm (interglacial) climate.
Anthropocene: A proposed new geological epoch characterized by the significant impact of human activities on Earth's surface, climate, and ecosystems. This epoch is still under consideration by the International Commission on Stratigraphy.
"...uses chronostratigraphy (the process of relating strata to time) and geochronology (a scientific branch of geology that aims to determine the age of rocks)."
"The time scale has been developed through the study of rock layers and the observation of their relationships and identifying features such as lithologies, paleomagnetic properties, and fossils."
"The definition of standardized international units of geologic time is the responsibility of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), a constituent body of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS)."
"Their primary objective is to precisely define global chronostratigraphic units of the International Chronostratigraphic Chart (ICC) that are used to define divisions of geologic time."
"While some regional terms are still in use, the table of geologic time presented in this article conforms to the nomenclature, ages, and color codes set forth by the ICS."
"The chronostratigraphic divisions are in turn used to define geochronologic units."
"It is a system of chronological dating that uses the rock record of Earth."
"Earth scientists, including geologists, paleontologists, geophysicists, geochemists, and paleoclimatologists."
"Identifying features such as lithologies, paleomagnetic properties, and fossils."
"The International Commission on Stratigraphy is a constituent body of the International Union of Geological Sciences."
"To determine the age of rocks."
"It is used to define divisions of geologic time."
"Geology, paleontology, geophysics, geochemistry, and paleoclimatology."
"The timing and relationships of events in geologic history."
"The process of relating strata to time."
"The International Commission on Stratigraphy."
"Using the International Chronostratigraphic Chart."
"Through the scientific branch of geology that aims to determine the age of rocks."
"The rock record of Earth is the basis for the geologic time scale."