geosciences
Planetary science field
Geosciences is the collective term for sciences that study the Earth—geology, oceanography, meteorology, and related fields.
The term emphasizes interconnection: understanding climate requires studying oceans, atmosphere, and land together.
She earned her PhD in geosciences with a focus on volcanic activity.
Also called earth sciences.
Study of crustal deformation
- crustHard outer layer
- mantleCovering or wrap
- coreCentral essential portion
- seismologyStudy of ground tremors
earthquakes · faults · plates · subduction · rifting · continents · lithosphere · asthenosphere
Scientific study of seas
- seafloorOcean's solid base
- tectonicsStudy of crustal deformation
- hydrothermalHot water underground
- abyssalExtremely deep, unmeasurable
mid-ocean ridge · trenches · currents · tides · salinity · coral · submarine · seamounts
Study of terrain formation
- topographyPhysical feature mapping
- erosionGradual wearing away
- mountainsTall elevated landmasses
- valleysLow areas between hills
plateaus · canyons · deltas · floodplains · karst · glaciation · weathering · sediments
Study of atmospheric phenomena
- troposphereLowest atmospheric layer
- stratosphereSecond atmospheric layer up
- mesosphereAtmospheric layer, 50-85km up
- thermosphereHigh-temperature atmospheric zone
climate · weather · ozone · jetstream · precipitation · cyclone · anticyclone · fronts
Formed from cooled magma
- metamorphicUndergoing structural change
- graniteIgneous rock, quartz-rich
- basaltFine-grained volcanic stone
- limestoneCarbonate sedimentary rock
sandstone · shale · marble · gneiss · slate · schist · quartz · minerals
Preserved ancient organism traces
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- paleobiologyStudy of ancient organisms
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- evolutionSpecies changing over generations
sedimentary · geological time · Mesozoic · Paleozoic · Cenozoic · ammonites · trilobites · dinosaurs
Study of erupting mountains
- eruptionViolent sudden release
- magmaMolten rock underground
- lavaErupted liquid stone
- calderaCollapsed volcanic summit basin
pyroclastic · ash · pumice · fumarole · lahar · vent · hotspot · shield volcano
Water in underground rock
- aquiferGroundwater-bearing geological formation
- watershedDrainage area boundary
- riversFlowing bodies of water
- lakesLarge inland water bodies
glaciers · permafrost · water table · springs · runoff · streamflow · fluvial · limnology
Research conducted on location
- GISSpatial data framework
- remote sensingGathering data without contact
- core samplingRemoving underground material cylinders
- radiometric datingAge measurement via atomic decay
Preventing waste or loss
- sustainabilityCapacity to endure indefinitely
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
remediation · natural hazards · resource management · land use · anthropocene
tectonics
Study of crustal deformation
seismology · earthquakes · faults · plates · subduction · rifting · continents · lithosphere · asthenosphere · orogeny
oceanography
Scientific study of seas
- seafloorOcean's solid base
- tectonicsStudy of crustal deformation
- hydrothermalHot water underground
abyssal · mid-ocean ridge · trenches · currents · tides · salinity · coral · submarine · seamounts · continental shelf
geomorphology
Study of terrain formation
- topographyPhysical feature mapping
- erosionGradual wearing away
- mountainsTall elevated landmasses
valleys · plateaus · canyons · deltas · floodplains · karst · glaciation · weathering · sediments · soil
meteorology
Study of atmospheric phenomena
- troposphereLowest atmospheric layer
- stratosphereSecond atmospheric layer up
- mesosphereAtmospheric layer, 50-85km up
thermosphere · climate · weather · ozone · jetstream · precipitation · cyclone · anticyclone · fronts · airmass
igneous
Formed from cooled magma
- metamorphicUndergoing structural change
- graniteIgneous rock, quartz-rich
- basaltFine-grained volcanic stone
limestone · sandstone · shale · marble · gneiss · slate · schist · quartz · minerals · crystallography
fossils
Preserved ancient organism traces
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- paleobiologyStudy of ancient organisms
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
evolution · sedimentary · geological time · Mesozoic · Paleozoic · Cenozoic · ammonites · trilobites · dinosaurs
volcanology
Study of erupting mountains
caldera · pyroclastic · ash · pumice · fumarole · lahar · vent · hotspot · shield volcano · stratovolcano
groundwater
Water in underground rock
- aquiferGroundwater-bearing geological formation
- watershedDrainage area boundary
- riversFlowing bodies of water
lakes · glaciers · permafrost · water table · springs · runoff · streamflow · fluvial · limnology · cryosphere
fieldwork
Research conducted on location
- GISSpatial data framework
- remote sensingGathering data without contact
- core samplingRemoving underground material cylinders
radiometric dating · mapping · spectroscopy · modeling · satellite imagery
conservation
Preventing waste or loss
- sustainabilityCapacity to endure indefinitely
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
deforestation · remediation · natural hazards · resource management · land use · anthropocene
geosciencesastronomy
Science of celestial objects
astrophysics · cosmology · life sciences · biology · biosciences
geosciencescosmology
Study of universal structure
particle physics · astronomy · molecular biology · astrophysics · quantum mechanics