TIME SCALES IN THE EARTH SYSTEM
evolution of the air, earth, and water subsystems (4.5 x 10⁹ years)

Long-term
evolution of the life subsystem (4 x 10⁹ years)

break-up of Pangaea (210 x 10⁶ years)

glacial interval in the current ice age (10⁵ years)

extinctions of plants and animals (100's to a few 1000's of years)

drought (decade)

seasons (annually)

weather (daily)

nuclear reactions
Short-term
chemical reactions (while most chemical reactions occur very quickly, some can require years to pass before coming to equilibrium.)
RETURN TO FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPT 4