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geochronology

/ˌdʒioʊkrəˈnɑlədʒi/
IPA guide

A lot has happened to make Earth what it is today, and geochronology is the science that studies this. Starting from the first moments of the planet’s existence, geochronology traces all major Earth-forming events from the beginning to the present day.

The word geochronology also refers to the results of this study. Scientists in this field develop a proposed "story" of Earth's history, mapping out major events alongside their probable dates. Geologists, geophysicists, and paleontologists are among the many specialists involved in this work. The word geochronology combines the prefix geo-, meaning "Earth," with chronology, "an ordered account of events," which stems from the Greek root chronos, meaning "time."

Definitions of geochronology
  1. noun
    the science of determining the order and timing of events that have shaped the Earth’s geology
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