Cataclysmic Geology is the study of the unusual and rare geologic events that have profound effects on the planet and often happen very rapidly or instantaneously. Most geological processes follow James Hutton's theory of uniformity of causes, which has historically led to skepticism about cataclysmic events. Recent research has shown that while most processes are uniform, time has been punctuated by very rapid, very destructive events.

Some examples of cataclysmic geological events are:

• Caldera Eruptions
• Glacial Lake Releases
• Impact Events
• Large-magnitude Earthquakes
• Large-scale Landslides

See also: Catastrophism