Geology is the study of Earth
The discipline stands at the pinnacle of all Earth Sciences. Geology is the study of the solid Earth as we know it, the terrain, soil, rock mass, and physical elements that compose the Earth altogether. (The following article will discuss various aspects of geology including branches of geology and the importance of geology).
Furthermore, also deals with the processes by which the elements of Earth change over time. All that and it still is not even the tip of the iceberg.
It even includes the study of material features of any terrestrial planet and even natural satellites such as the Moons and planets such as Mars.
What is Geology’s simple definition?
Geology can be defined as the “scientific study of Earth’s origins and components that compose it.
The composition elements are landforms, life forms, minerals and rocks and the processes that affect them over time.”
You are probably thinking, that this is a really vast field of study, so what are the primary focuses?
A fair answer would be to say that there are no single out reasons to study the subject.
However, the problems faced by society such as
- Energy
- Climate change
- Environment
- Natural Hazards (Earthquakes, Volcanic Eruptions, Landslides, Floods, etc.,)
- Water
- Mineral resources
All these essential aspects of human life are studied by geologists.
What are the main Branches of Geology that we have to study?
Following are some of the many branches of geology
- Geophysics
- Biostratigraphy
- Geochronology
- Engineering Geology
- Benthic Ecology
- Spectral Geology
- Marine Surveying
- Marine Geophysics
- Marine Geochemistry
The branches that receive comparatively more focus are as follows:
- Chronology: This branch of geology studies rock layers as they provide an understanding of geologic time
- Engineering Geology: is the study of Earth’s structure and material with keeping in mind the engineering applications. It is a combination of Geology and Geotechnical Engineering.
- Astrogeology: Rock and landform classification outside Earth.
- Topography: Terrain mapping and involved processes.
- Sedimentology: Understanding erosion, sediment movement, and deposition.
- Natural Resources: Rocks examination, including materials and terrain as natural resources.
- Tectonics: Application of plate tectonics principles.
Study the Importance of Geology
As geology is one of the major sciences, that already shows something about the nature of education. The cornerstones include scientific courses such as physics, chemistry, and mathematics.
With just the right techniques, on the basis of these sciences, geology investigates the subterranean world. Geological knowledge is important for being a science itself but it also consists of numerous practical approaches: natural resource explorations e.g., ores, gas, water, and oil, etc., understanding and predicting natural disasters e.g., earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, etc.,
Furthermore, Geology studies the understanding of our planet and its climate. Therefore, the importance of geology is just as significant or more in comparison to other sciences.
Importance of our Environment
It is a fair statement to say that Geology is the study of fundamental aspects of society and the future.
Our environment plays a crucial role in shaping us as a society. To clarify, what we see, feel, and interact with on day to day basis is the single most important factor that influences our growth and personalities as individuals.
The claim can be backed up by “Architects shaping society”. Just as a certain lifestyle changes human behavior, our natural surroundings are also our habitat.
A real-life example would be every time you visit a different “society/housing scheme/town/city” you notice a difference in the behavior of people. That difference is evidence of the influence of the human environment.
Geological Engineering
Engineering in itself refers to the design, working, and use of Machines. However, it has a much more elaborate meaning to it.
Engineers are people that have highly polished analytical skills and can find problems and innovate solutions. Therefore, geological engineers study the Geology /Earth as a body that is vulnerable to damages caused by human actions or natural phenomena and they work to figure out solutions in the best interest of humans and their planet.
We can see Geological Engineering is the study of Geology with respect to engineering applications. It involves most of the investigation involved before the construction of different structures.
A geological engineer has the most critical job. This particular engineer studies the 4.5 billion-year-old history of the Earth and the present, ever-changing environment and forecasts the inevitable future.
There are various respects of the study for a geological engineer to specialize in, including but not limited to:
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Rock Mechanics Engineering
- Mineral Resources Engineering
- Petroleum Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
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