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209-5 Building a High-resolution Digital Geological Timeline

Session: Deep-Time Earth and the AI Revolution

Presenting Author:

Shu-zhong Shen

Authors:

Shen, Shu-zhong¹, Zhang, Shu-han², Fan, Jun-xuan³, Wang, Xiang-dong⁴

(1) State Key Laboratory of Critical Earth Material Cycling and Mineral Deposits and School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, (2) State Key Laboratory of Critical Earth Material Cycling and Mineral Deposits and School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, (3) State Key Laboratory of Critical Earth Material Cycling and Mineral Deposits and School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, (4) State Key Laboratory of Critical Earth Material Cycling and Mineral Deposits and School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China,

Abstract:

The Earth's 4.5-billion-year history is recorded in geological strata, and the geologic timeline serves as the universal language for deciphering its evolution. Since the 1970s, the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) has worked to establish a standardized chronostratigraphy for global correlation, primarily using Global Stratotype Section and Points (GSSPs) to define stage boundaries. Of 102 GSSPs, 82 have been officially ratified—a significant achievement. However, challenges persist, including incomplete fossil records that make identifying the "first appearance" of index fossils difficult, leading to potential revisions. Additionally, biostratigraphic GSSPs often conflict with other markers like geochronologic dates from volcanic ash layers or isotope excursions.

The 21st century's big data and AI advancements offer new opportunities to refine the geologic timeline. A high-resolution, data-driven approach should: 1) integrate global stratigraphic databases, compiling fossil records for permanent storage and retrieval to maximize correlation value; 2) apply statistics and AI to address fossil record incompleteness and optimize stratigraphic ordering; 3) combine multi-proxy data (geochronology, magnetostratigraphy, cyclostratigraphy etc.) to enhance correlation accuracy; and 4) enable dynamic updates, allowing timelines to be generated for any interval using selected or all data. This digital timeline will advance studies on Earth's events, paleoclimate modeling, and biodiversity trends, deepening research into life, climate, and planetary evolution.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-8277

Building a High-resolution Digital Geological Timeline

Description

Session Format: Oral

Presentation Date: 10/21/2025

Presentation Start Time: 02:40 PM

Presentation Room: HBGCC, 301C

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