Revolutions in the earth sciences

The 20th century has been a century of scientific revolutions for many disc iplines: quantum mechanics in physics, the atomic approach in chemistry the nonlinear revolution in mathematics, the introduction of statistical physi cs. The major breakthroughs in these disciplines had all occurred by about 1930. In contrast, the revolutions in the so-called natural sciences: that is in the earth sciences and in biology, waited until the last half of the century These revolutions were indeed late, but they were no less deep and drastic, and they occurred quite suddenly Actually, one carl say that not o ne but three revolutions occurred in the earth sciences: in plate tectonics , planetology and the environment. They occurred essentially independently from each other, but as time passed, their effects developed, amplified and started interacting. These effects continue strongly to this day.