What is Earth Sciences?
The Earth Sciences encompass a wide range of subjects concerning the solid Earth, hydrosphere and atmosphere, including geology, geophysics, hydrogeology and atmospheric science, as well as aspects of geography and environmental science. An Earth Scientist needs to understand the processes operating within, on and above the Earth’s surface. Thus, the Earth Sciences concern the environment in which we all live. The School of Earth Sciences offers two major disciplines at the undergraduate level: Geology and Atmospheric Science/Oceanography. Geology concerns the solid Earth, in particular the rocks and their constituent minerals and fossils. The geological record of rocks, formed over much of the Earth’s 4500 million year history are the raw materials of geology. The study and interpretation of the geological record is of paramount importance in the search for natural resources like gold, coal, oil, groundwater and rock material used for construction work. Atmospheric Science and Oceanog
