I googled around and found a reference online saying that anastrophic was a local catstrophic [event]. Mentioned another term that I've seen before, "punctuated equilibrium", for how things (genetic) remain in a steady state for a long time, but then have short periods of almost catstrophic change. (I've seen it applied to language change.)

http://origins.swau.edu/papers/global/chadwick/default.html

Another page (a Velikowsky newsletter (!)) attributed the term anastrophic to Forese Carlo Wezel who seems to be an Italian geologist.