Simple Explanation:
* Uniformitarianism is the principle that the same geological processes that operate today also operated in the past.
Examples:
* Uniformitarianism suggests that the Grand Canyon was formed by the same process of erosion that is happening today, just over a much longer period of time.
* Geologists use uniformitarianism to understand the history of Earth's formation by observing the forces at work today.
* While acknowledging the possibility of catastrophic events, uniformitarianism provides a framework for understanding the slow and gradual changes that shape the Earth's surface.
More nuanced usage:
* The theory of uniformitarianism, while generally accepted, has been challenged by the discovery of evidence for sudden, massive changes in Earth's history.
* Uniformitarianism is a fundamental principle in geology, allowing us to interpret past events based on current observations.
Remember to choose the sentence structure that best suits your purpose and audience.