What concept suggests that natural disasters, such as Noah's Flood, shaped the earth and resulted in areas being restocked with new life?

The concept that aligns with the idea that natural disasters, such as Noah's Flood, shaped the earth and resulted in areas being restocked with new life is Catastrophism, as proposed by Georges Cuvier. This theory suggests that the Earth's landscape has been shaped by a series of sudden, short-lived, and extraordinary events. Cuvier argued that these catastrophic events, which include massive floods and other disasters, had significant impacts on the earth's geology and the existence of various life forms.

According to this perspective, after such a catastrophe occurred, life would regenerate in the affected areas, leading to the introduction of new species and biodiversity as the ecosystems were re-established. This contrasts with the idea of gradual changes over time, which is central to uniformitarianism. Cuvier's Catastrophism emphasizes the role of these dramatic events in shaping both the physical environment and biological diversity, consistent with the notion that life "restocks" after such disasters. In this case, the connection to biblical accounts like Noah's Flood serves as a cultural representation of the concept of catastrophic events influencing life on Earth.