Some things become extinct. Natural resources can be conserved. Volcanoes happen, mountains rise, and rocks wear down. Adaptation takes place. Fossil fuels are explored.
Genetic material influences the ability to adapt.
Volcanoes and plate tectonics create both quick and gradual change. Patterns of Change provides a framework for creating understanding when changes exist. The duration of investigation may make both types 2 and 3 appear to be 3. That is, doubt exists until greater than one cycle of type 2 has been exhibited. However, recent work in the field of Chaos has cast doubt on the existence of true randomness.