What are the geosciences?
The geosciences include all fields of science that deal specifically with the varying functions of the systems on earth. Geosciences can also be called earth sciences, earth science, or geoscience. The geosciences recognize earth as a unique system because it is the only planet which, to our knowledge, has life forms. While some who study the geosciences take a multi-disciplinary approach to studying our planet, others study Earth systems through a particular field of science. The best way to understand the geosciences is to understand the underlying sciences that form this field of study. Most of these fields can be extrapolated to study systems not present on earth. However, when these fields apply specifically to studies of the earth, they are geosciences. These include studies of the atmosphere, the ocean, and plant and animal life. One of the geosciences most important to understanding Earth is geology. By studying rock formations, differentiations in rocks, and rock development,
Geoscience is the science of exploration, discovery, and Earth stewardship. The geosciences address all issues relating to Earth Systems, including the solid Earth, oceans, and atmosphere. The major applications of the geosciences are: exploration and responsible development of natural resources (oil, gas, coal, minerals, construction aggregate, water, soil), preservation of the natural environment, restoration from environmental damage, mitigation of geohazards such as earthquakes and landslides, and exploratory research like the Mars space mission and understanding El Niño. By addressing these issues and developing solutions to problems affecting the Earth, geoscientists act as stewards of the Earth. Though much has been learned about the Earth through earth science, much more is yet to be discovered, especially as new problems face society, such as global climate change, advances in technology, and exhaustion of energy and raw material supplies.
Geology is the study of the Earth, how it works, how it affects people. Geologists deal with a wide range of issues, from searching for new sources of oil and water, to predicting earthquakes and floods, to identifying the causes and consequences of global warming, to determining ways to clean up pollution. But geology also addresses those questions that have fascinated people throughout time, such as what caused the demise of the dinosaurs, the continents to drift, and life to evolve on earth and maybe other planets. Clearly there’s more to contemporary geology than rocks, and geology is actually part of a still larger field called geosciences (or earth sciences). Geosciences include not only the study of the solid earth, but also its oceans, atmosphere, other planets, and the origins of life. You can see that as so defined, the geosciences are pretty broad! Geologists are people who like to solve problems, and do so while in the great outdoors. They need a strong background in the sc
