4. Darwin’s Reports on Catastrophic Natural Phenomena and Modern Science: Topographic Effect and Local Circumstances

Earthquakes, eruptions of volcanoes, connection of seismic and volcanic processes – all these phenomena stand among Darwin’s most strong impressions during the round-world voyage of the Beagle. He saw the powerful forces which had been, for a long time, changing the surface of the Earth. Darwin thought over these processes and their connections, and that led to his reflection in the books (Darwin, Journal of researches into the geology and natural history of the various countries visited by H.M.S. Beagle, under the command of Captain FitzRoy, R.N. from 1832 to 1836. Henry Colburn, London, 1839; Darwin, Journal of researches into the natural history and geology of the countries visited during the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle around the world, under the command of Captain Fitz Roy, R N. T Nelson and Sons, London, 1890; Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty’s Ships Adventure and Beagle, between the years 1826 and 1836, describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagle’s circumnavigation of the globe. Henry Colburn, London, 1839. Vol 2. Proceedings of the second expedition, 1831–1836, under the command of Captain Robert Fitz-Roy, R N) and his large article (Darwin, On the connexion of certain volcanic phenomena in South America; and on the formation of mountain chains and volcanoes, as the effect of the same power by which continents are elevated. (Read March 7, 1838) In: Barrett PH (ed) (1977) The Collected Papers of Charles Darwin. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago; 1840).