Patterns of Change in Earth Evolution

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

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2. Introduction

   • H. D. Holland, A. F. Trendall

   Pages 1-4

3. Evolutionary Radiations and Extinctions

   • D. M. Raup

   Pages 5-14

4. Large Body Impacts Through Geologic Time

   • E. M. Shoemaker

   Pages 15-40

5. Sudden Changes in Atmospheric Composition and Climate

   • O. B. Toon

   Pages 41-61

6. Geochemical Markers of Impacts and of Their Effects on Environments

   • K. J. Hsü

   Pages 63-74

7. The Possible Influences of Sudden Events on Biological Radiations and Extinctions

   • K. Padian, W. Alvarez, T. Birkelund, D. K. Fütterer, K. J. Hsü, J. H. Lipps et al.

   Pages 77-102

8. Changes in Sea Level

   • M. Steckler

   Pages 103-121

9. Gradual and Abrupt Shifts in Ocean Chemistry During Phanerozoic Time

   • W. T. Holser

   Pages 123-143

10. Biological Innovations and the Sedimentary Record

    • A. G. Fischer

    Pages 145-157

11. Late Precambrian and Early Cambrian Metazoa: Preservational or Real Extinctions?

    • A. Seilacher

    Pages 159-168

12. Short-term Changes Affecting Atmosphere, Oceans, and Sediments During the Phanerozoic

    • W. H. Berger, H. Füchtbauer, H. D. Holland, W. T. Holser, W. J. Jenkins, H. G. Kulke et al.

    Pages 171-205

13. Patterns and Geological Significance of Age Determinations in Continental Blocks

    • S. Moorbath

    Pages 207-219

14. The Archean/Proterozoic Transition: A Sedimentary and Paleobiologies Perspective

    • A. H. Knoll

    Pages 221-242

15. The Archean/Proterozoic Transition As a Geological Event — A View from Australian Evidence

    • A. F. Trendall

    Pages 243-259

16. Events on a Time Scale of 107 to 109 Years Controlled by Tectonism or Volcanism

    • K. S. Deffeyes, G. P. Brey, A. H. Knoll, S. Moorbath, H.-U. Schmincke, M. Steckler et al.

    Pages 261-270

17. Time and Space Scales of Mantle Convection

    • F. M. Richter

    Pages 271-289

18. Isotopic Evolution of the Crust and Mantle

    • R. K. O’Nions

    Pages 291-302

19. Degassing of the Earth

    • H. D. Holland

    Pages 303-311

20. Supracrustal Rocks, Polymetamorphism, and Evolution of the SW Greenland Archean Gneiss Complex

    • R. F. Dymek

    Pages 313-343

3 of the experience of the last few generations. The group of happily unexperienced events includes large bolide impacts with the Earth. The evidence for the occurrence of such impacts at intervals of some tens of millions of years is quite convincing, and Lyell stands admonished by Hamlet: "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. " The role of bolide impacts on the history of life during other portions of the Phanerozoic Eon is less clear (see Raup and Fischer, both this volume), and catastrophic changes unrelated to extraterrestrial processes may have been important (see Holser, this volume). Changes in the later Precambrian biota are still difficult to interpret, in part because the preservation of soft-bodied animals from this period of Earth history is so unusual (see Seilacher, this volume). During the past billion years or so, bolide impacts have exerted a significant effect on the Earth's surface and its inhabitants, but not on its interior. The 3800 Ma rocks at Isua in West Greenland are the oldest terrestrial rocks that are currently available for inspection (see Dymek, this volume). They contain abundant evidence for the operation of chemical and physical processes that are similar to those of the present day. This situation could not have prevailed during the entire 700 Ma preceding the formation of the Isua rocks.

• Cambrian
• Earth
• Geologie
• Patterns
• Phanerozoic
• atmosphere
• environment
• evolution
• formation
• geology
• history
• history of life
• sediment
• volcanism

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