Geology

Homework questions? :o)

A geologist is: a person versed in the science of geology.

Geoscience is the study of the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. Geoscientists (people versed in geoscience) study the Earth’s geologic past and present by using sophisticated instruments to analyze the composition of earth, rock, and water.

Geologists study the composition, processes, and history of the Earth. They try to find out how rocks were formed and what has happened to them since their formation. They also study the evolution of life by analyzing plant and animal fossils.

Geophysicists use the principles of physics, mathematics, and chemistry to study not only the Earth’s surface, but also its internal composition, ground and surface waters, atmosphere, oceans, and magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces.

Geoscientists usually study and work in one of several closely related fields of geoscience which are listed below.

Fields of study in the geosciences are: Biology, Paleontology, Geology, Mineralogy, Climatology, Paleoclimatology, Biogeography, Geomicrobiology, Oceanography, Marine Biology, Atmospheric Chemistry, Vulcanology, Geophysics, and Environmental Science.

Biology is the study of plants and animals.

Paleontology studies fossil life forms.

Geology is the science and study of the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth. The field of geology encompasses the study of the composition, structure, physical properties, dynamics, and history of Earth materials, and the processes by which they are formed, moved, and changed.

Mineralogy is the study of the earth's minerals.

Climatology is the study of weather patterns over periods of time and how humans may impact climate.

Paleoclimatology poses theories and studies prehistoric weather systems.

Biogeography evaluates the location of species on Earth, and studies how geographic changes in the earth impact plant and animal populations.
 
Geomicrobiology evaluates tiny organisms or parts of organisms and their interaction with things that are not organic, like rocks and minerals.

Oceanography and Marine Biology evaluate living systems in the oceans, fossil records of previous ocean life, rocks and minerals and how they form in ocean settings. Subsets of these two fields also map the ocean floor, which isn't complete as of yet.

Atmospheric chemistry examines the chemical values that compose the earth's atmosphere.

Vulcanology is the study of volcanoes.

Geophysics is a more instrument-oriented discipline that investigates the Earth's internal structure and processes by studying seismic waves and variations in our planet's magnetic and gravitational fields as well as its rotation.

Environmental Science focuses on the near-surface realm of the Earth and the way humans interact with that environment. Environmental scientists study natural hazards, water availability and quality, waste management and the use of Earth's limited resources. 

I am a geologist-wannabe. My interest since I was around five years old has been in rocks, how they form, and what stories of our planet can be learned through a closer understanding of them. I do not call myself a geologist because I did not graduate when I took geology at UNM. I guess I would require one to have a geology degree before I'd call them a geologist.

Yet, some of the most influencial geology researchers in the past have not had degrees in geology. Another view may be that when a geologist looks in my back yard he or she will see my collection of petrified wood, fossil shells, specimens of garnet, quartz, amorphous silica of many kinds, limestone, shale. A non-geologist will see a bunch of rocks.

A geologist will look across the Rio Grande valley and appreciate that the Sandias are a fault block ridge overlooking a north-south graben filled with up to about 10000 feet of unconsolidated sands and gravels overlying limestone and shale units matching the layers of the mountain far above.

A geologist takes time to note the bedrock exposures where others might only see the wildflowers.

There is in science the philosophical doctrine of science called Materialism. My 7th grade science teacher formulated it with the statement, "Teleology obviates ontology". Essentially it means if you try to inject an all-powerful God into your research, it keeps you from finding out what really happened. There is logic to it, My uncle, when I explained the shape of a lepidodendron cast I found in his West Virginia yard, responded that, that rock is that shape because God made it that way. The science establishment supposes that only explanations using strictly natural principles can be scientific. There are, however, degree-holding scientists, geologists included (and my other uncle, a retired physics professor), who accept that some of the nature we see could result from supernatural action in the past.

I think a real geologist is someone who addresses the question "What do these rocks mean" in a serious, scientifically disciplined manner.

Geosciences address all issues related to the earth, ocean and atmosphere. They are fundamental as all energy resources and raw materials come from the Earth. “The major applications of geosciences are in exploration and responsible development of natural resources (oil, gas, coal, minerals, water soil, etc), preservation of the natural environment, restoration from environmental damage, and mitigation of geohazards such as earthquakes and landslides, as also exploratory research,” says M K Pandit, HoD, Geological Sciences, Rajasthan University. All geoscientists work with people, data, information, ideas and technology. They work in the field and laboratory, as also in the office. They may have to work outdoors quite often and in all kinds of weather, and some like seismologists or volcanologists may have to face dangerous conditions while observing and gathering data. for more information please log onto the following link - http://educationtimes.com/educationTimes/getArticleDetail.do?parent=96&sectionid=97&articleid=20090625200906231619582298ccc8fd5&parentname=cAreerZ&sectionname=Science&type=null&key=null