The term that states that the processes that occur today have always occurred in Earth's geologic history is uniformitarianism.
Uniformitarianism is the idea that the same processes we see happening on Earth today, like erosion, volcanic activity, and sedimentation, have been occurring over geological time scales. This principle suggests that the same natural laws and processes that operate in the present also operated in the past.
An example of uniformitarianism in action is the formation of sedimentary rock layers. By observing how sediments are deposited in rivers, lakes, and oceans today, geologists can infer that similar processes were responsible for the formation of ancient sedimentary rocks.
Overall, uniformitarianism helps geologists interpret the Earth's history by understanding that the present is the key to the past.
