I think what's really happening here is that they're trying to justify the descision, made long ago about upcomming events. I believe it's been decided that those who have the responsibility to inform; to not let the public know of the strongly supported armageddon theory, which involves a natural, cylical cataclysmic event. During such an events massive changes to the surface can occur. This would also give an explaination as to why we're finding large deposits of fossil fuel (oil) under the seas, artic ice and deserts. There's a long pattern of evidence spaning throughout much of the history of Earth. This has been known for at least 20 years so it's hardly a surprise to those in-the-know.