Timefulness

1. Geology Demands a Unique, Whole-Brain Thinking

To think geologically is to hold in the mind’s eye not only what is visible at the surface but also present in the subsurface, what has been and will be.

Interdisciplinary approach. Geology creatively synthesizes ideas from physics and chemistry to investigate complex natural phenomena like volcanoes, oceans, and ice sheets. It also applies scholarly habits from the humanities, such as close reading and spatial visualization, to the examination of rocks and landscapes. This interdisciplinary nature requires a versatile and disciplined imagination.

Reading the Earth Text. Geologists perceive rocks and landscapes as a palimpsest, a parchment with layers of writing where traces of earlier epochs persist. The discipline involves deciphering these remnants to understand the Earth's history. This requires not only observing the surface but also inferring what lies beneath and envisioning past and future states.

Beyond Chronos to Kairos. While other disciplines also deal with Deep Time, geology uniquely accesses tangible objects that witnessed it. Geology is less about time as a simple march (chronos) and more about its transformative powers within a narrative (kairos). This perspective allows geologists to reconstruct Earth's biography, understanding the processes that have shaped the planet over billions of years.

2. Deep Time Requires a Shift in Perspective

We are navigating recklessly toward our future using conceptions of time as primitive as a world map from the fourteenth century, when dragons lurked around the edges of a flat earth.

Temporal Illiteracy. Most humans lack a sense of temporal proportion, with little understanding of the durations of Earth's great chapters or the rates of change during environmental instability. This ignorance undermines claims to modernity, as we navigate the future with primitive conceptions of time. Overcoming this requires appreciating the vastness and complexity of planetary history.

Challenging Time Denial. Various forms of time denial, from Young Earth creationism to economic short-term thinking, contribute to temporal illiteracy. These denials prevent us from understanding the long-term consequences of our actions. Embracing a geologic respect for time is essential for making informed decisions about the future.

Geology's Contribution. Fathoming deep time is arguably geology's single greatest contribution to humanity. It provides a lens through which we can witness time in a way that transcends the limits of human experience. This understanding enriches our daily experience and changes how we perceive our place in the world.

3. Mountains are Ephemeral, Dynamic Landscapes

There is an appearance of action and united movement in these crested masses, nearly resembling that of sea waves . . . fantastic yet harmonious curves, governed by some grand under-sweep like that of a tide running through the whole body of the mountain chain.

Tectonic and Erosional Balance. Mountains are not static monuments but dynamic features shaped by the interplay of tectonic uplift and erosional forces. The rates of these opposing processes are remarkably well-matched, creating diverse and ever-changing landscapes. This balance is crucial for maintaining Earth's habitability.

Plate Tectonics and Mountain Building. The tempo of mountain growth is ultimately set by the formation and destruction of ocean basins. Subduction zones, where old ocean crust returns to the mantle, drive plate motions and lead to continental collisions that build mountain belts. The Himalayas, for example, formed from the collision of India and Asia over millions of years.

Human Impact on Topography. Human activities, such as mining and deforestation, are now moving more rock and sediment than all of Earth's rivers combined. This unprecedented scale of human-induced topographic change is a hallmark of the Anthropocene, with long-lasting and wide-ranging environmental consequences.

4. Earth's Atmosphere Has Evolved Through Distinct Stages

The story of the atmosphere is bound up inextricably with the story of life; life itself crafted the modern atmosphere—in a sense, wrote its own chemical constitution.

A Series of Atmospheres. Earth's atmosphere has undergone several major transformations, each reflecting changes in the planet's geology and biology. The modern atmosphere, rich in nitrogen and oxygen, is the result of billions of years of evolution, shaped by life itself. Understanding this history is crucial for putting modern atmospheric changes into perspective.

The Great Oxidation Event. The emergence of oxygenic photosynthesis by cyanobacteria led to the Great Oxidation Event (GOE), a radical rewriting of the atmosphere-hydrosphere constitution. This event purged the oceans of iron, created an ozone layer, and paved the way for the evolution of more complex life forms. Iron formations are a key piece of evidence.

The Boring Billion and Snowball Earth. After the GOE, Earth's atmosphere stabilized for a billion years before another major upheaval: the Snowball Earth events. These periods of extreme cold and ice cover led to further changes in atmospheric composition and ultimately triggered the Cambrian explosion of animal life.

5. Human Activities Are Accelerating Environmental Change

In other words, it is time for all the sciences to adopt a geologic respect for time and its capacity to transfigure, destroy, renew, amplify, erode, propagate, entwine, innovate, and exterminate.

The Anthropocene Epoch. Human activities are now driving environmental changes at rates unprecedented in geologic history. These changes include accelerated erosion, sea-level rise, ocean acidification, and extinction rates, marking the start of a new geologic epoch: the Anthropocene. This epoch represents a fundamental break with the uniformitarian principles that have guided geology for centuries.

Climate Change and Carbon Emissions. The burning of fossil fuels has led to a dramatic increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide, driving global warming and other climate changes. Current CO2 levels are higher than at any time in the last 4 million years, and the rate of increase is accelerating. Understanding the long-term carbon cycle is essential for mitigating these changes.

The PETM as an Analog. The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), a period of rapid warming 55 million years ago, provides a potential analog for current climate change. Studying the PETM can help us understand the potential consequences of our actions and the long-term effects on Earth's ecosystems.

6. The Past Offers Lessons for Navigating the Future

The few human-made artifacts one finds—a tangled fishing net, a decaying weather balloon—seem older and shabbier than the ancient mountains, which are robust and vital.

Time-Transcending Art Projects. Art projects like the Future Library and the 10,000 Year Clock offer inspiration for reframing our relationship with time. These projects encourage long-term thinking and intergenerational governance, essential for addressing environmental challenges. They help us see beyond our own mortal limits.

Indigenous Wisdom. Native American tribes, with their emphasis on survivance and the Seventh Generation principle, offer a model for long-view leadership. Their commitment to environmental stewardship and protection of natural resources provides valuable lessons for sustainable living. They value endurance over conquest.

The Need for Intergenerational Action. Addressing climate change and other environmental problems requires a shift in perspective from short-term gains to long-term sustainability. This requires economic incentives, governance strategies, and a renewed sense of responsibility to future generations.

7. Timefulness Fosters a Deeper Connection to Earth

Bewitching as the fantasy of timelessness may be, there is far deeper and more mysterious beauty in timefulness.

Beyond Timelessness to Timefulness. Developing a sense of timefulness—a clear-eyed view of our place in Time, both the past that came long before us and the future that will elapse without us—is essential for navigating the Anthropocene. This involves appreciating the distances and proximities in the geography of deep time.

Reclaiming Our Place in Nature. The modern world has created a sense of separation from nature, leading to environmental hubris and a lack of empathy for the planet. By embracing timefulness, we can reconnect with the Earth and recognize our role as stewards of its future. We can learn to adjust our pace to the tempos of the Earth.

A Call for Action. The challenges of the Anthropocene require a fundamental shift in our thinking and behavior. By embracing timefulness, we can make informed decisions, promote sustainability, and create a more just and equitable world for future generations. We can learn to treat each other with more empathy.

Last updated: February 22, 2025