What Is Geology?
"So what is geology..."
"They say it is to see how the world was made." Sir Walter Scott (1771 - 1832)
It's the study of the Earth and its properties, behaviour, structure, composition and geological history.
It addresses questions like
* how the Earth was formed and how it continues to change;
* how to find the Earth's resources;
* how to predict its dangerous events.
Its more academic part includes
* the formation, evolution and composition of the planet Earth;
* the causes and nature of earthquakes, ice ages, volcanoes, tsunamis and climate change.
and its more practical side includes
* how to find oil, gas, minerals and other resources including ground water;
* how to prevent problems like landslides, floods, sinkholes and water and soil contamination;
* where to dispose nuclear waste.
There are other studies within geology such as structural geology, petrology, mineralogy, paleontology, hydrogeology, stratigraphy, glaciology, geophysics, geochemistry, geomorphology, volcanology, metallurgy, engineering geology and others.
Geologists in the field. Poster by AllPosters.com. Click on thumbnail to buy.
