Geology is often referred to in the plural, that is, as the geological sciences, because it includes the branch dedicated to a certain aspect of the Earth, such as climate, mineral exploration, tectonic dynamics, etc. By extension, it could even apply to other stars in the solar system. Many people don't know what is geology nor what are its main branches.
For this reason, we are going to dedicate this article to telling you what geology is, what its characteristics and importance are.
what is geology
Geology is the natural science devoted to the study of the earth. Its objective is to understand the physical composition and the internal and external structure of our planet, as well as the different processes and dynamics that have allowed it to evolve from its formation to the present day. Its name is derived from the Greek words Geo, "earth" and logos, "words or knowledge".
On one hand, geology includes theoretical knowledge, such as the method by which the earth was formed. On the other hand, it also provides specific applications in specific fields of human activities, such as geotechnics and civil engineering, and even in the understanding and prevention of large-scale terrestrial phenomena such as earthquakes.
branches of geology
Geology includes the following main branches, with many others not mentioned:
- Geophysics. As its name suggests, it involves the application of knowledge and perspectives of physics to study the Earth. In this way, he is interested in the fundamental dynamics that apply to life on Earth now and in the past, such as reflection and refraction, gravity, electromagnetism, radioactivity, etc. It is further divided into internal geophysics and external geophysics, depending on the depth of the planetary body in which your interest lies.
- Tectonics. He is interested in the deep structure of the earth's crust, where rocks originate that deform the earth's surface, among other things, allowing the continents to move according to their tectonic plates, capable of promoting the formation of mountains and/or causing earthquakes.
- Geochemistry. Like geophysics and physics, geochemistry uses chemical knowledge and tools to understand the matter of the Earth, that is, to understand how it is made and what it is, and even to be able to project that knowledge in the case of other planets. and stars from space. He is interested in the transformation of rocks and the reactions that take place between subsurface materials.
- Stratigraphy. This branch of geology interprets, organizes and understands the remains of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, as well as the continuity of the horizontal layers that make up the soil, called stratigraphy.
- Petroleum Geology. One of the most lucrative applications of geology involves all aspects of oil: its formation, location, reserve estimation, and exploration and extraction.
- Hydrology. As its name indicates, it is interested in water, especially water deposited below the surface (groundwater), and its interactions with soils, rocks, minerals and wetlands, and its different manifestations (gas, liquid and solid) and the processes to control its underground deposits and movements.
- Meteorology. It studies atmospheric phenomena and tries to predict their development. To do this, it takes into account factors such as pressure, temperature, humidity, wind, etc.
- Speleology. Branches that study the formation and morphology of underground caves and other natural caves, seeking to explore, map and collect samples to provide important information about the ecosystems of the region. Its procedures are usually carried out in a playful way, which is why it has to be called caving.
- Paleontology. It is in itself a branch of geology and natural sciences dedicated to the study of past life on our planet through the fossil evidence found in the subsoil. It is a discipline best known for discovering dinosaurs and Paleozoic life, although it is also dedicated to understanding microbial life and paleobotany.
- Seismology. The science of tremors, volcanoes and earthquakes and the tectonic displacements that produce them. It also provides information on seismic wave propagation, earthquake damage prevention, and earthquake education.
Importance
Geology is a wide and varied science. It has a variety of applications and can save lives in certain situations, such as civil engineering, seismology or other professions. On the other hand, it has a variety of economically lucrative uses such as petroleum science, mineralogy, and many others.
Furthermore, it provides a wealth of valuable information about the nature of our own planet. Geology is a source of information about the Earth's past and present, in the sense that it helps us extrapolate its knowledge to other planets and even predict our future.
Geology vs biology and geography
Biology and geology have many intersections. First, they combined paleontology to study wondrous prehistoric creatures in which few fossils remain in the ground. In addition, together they study the complex relationship between life and inorganic elements. They can explain how organisms modify, transport, repair, or alter them at their convenience, leaving chemical footprints that geologists can identify, even millions of years later.
Likewise, geological changes on Earth have an impact on the life course, which is evident in the chaos of evolution: consider how species that have been separated from other species by the separation of their habitats due to tectonics of plates have taken different evolutionary courses and ended up being completely different species.
Although they are written similarly, geography and geology are completely different fields of studydespite their proximity to each other. This geographer is dedicated to the study of the current state of the earth, not only its political or human divisions, but also the distribution of its mineral resources or natural accidents, etc.
On the other hand, as we said, the geologist mainly studies the process of the earth from its formation to the panorama that the geographer studies, that is, he is interested in the past and the present of the earth. However, the two disciplines complement each other to enrich their respective fields of knowledge.
Geology is a university degree program, a bachelor's degree. It usually takes five years to learn it. Its components include other disciplines borrowed from other exact sciences, such as physics, chemistry, or biology, as well as from the social sciences, such as geography, history, or economics.
This occupation provides naturalist training and technical preparation to its professionals. On the one hand, it allows them to understand the complex processes of terrestrial nature and, on the other hand, to quantify, measure and use its resources.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about what geology is and its characteristics.