Geology, often known as Earth Science, involves the study of the earth, its components, characteristics and activities; in short earth processes. The scope of the study includes, the matter earth is made of- both solid and liquid, the structure of these materials, and how such constituents are formed. It tries to explain how the earth came to being, how animals and plants evolved and lived.
Geologists are engaged in finding earth resources, minerals and oil, in mining, and in discovering economically useful matter. They study natural hazards as well – volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, floods, etc, and invent ways to warn against them, and minimize the harmful effects. Geologists are engaged in studying climatic changes too.
Geological Sciences includes areas of study like Geo-Physics, Oceanography, Atmospheric Science, etc, which we shall seek to explain. This field is so specialized that there are a very few takers of it.
Oceanography : Study of the behavior patterns of the ocean and seas, including wave patterns, coastal activities like erosion etc.
Volcano-logy: Study of the volcanoes – components, eruptions, lava, processes, hazards and effects.
Hydro-geology: Study of underground water, its distribution and movement within earth. It helps in the exploration of ground water sources and their utilization.
Economic Geology: Study for minerals and ore exploration, ore-genesis, and how ores are created.
Engineering Geology: For studying the integrity of buildings. It deals with the application of geological principles to ensure that factors affecting construction is taken care of.
Structural Geology: Study of earth patterns like folds, faults, rocks and their composition, used to determine the cause of formation and disintegration of physical features, like rocks, mountains, etc, on earth’s surface.
Geo-Physics: Study of the earth putting to use physical methods and techniques of gravity, seismology, electricity, and magnetism.
Geo-Chemistry: Study of the chemical composition and behavior of rocks and minerals.
Geo-Chronology: Study to determine the time when rock was formed, about metamorphism, mineralization, and study of isotope geology to also find out about geological events.
Geo-Morphology: Studies the various kids of land forms, and processes that gives them birth.
Palaeontology: Study of fossils, to study life
Palaeo-Climatology: Study the climatic conditions of the Earth and the atmosphere.
Pedology: Study of soil – formation, erosion, etc.
Igneous Petrology: Study of various igneous processes, especially volcano related
Metamorphic Petrology: Studies the effects of metamorphic activities on rocks and minerals.
Marine Geology: Study of the bed of the ocean and coasts. It includes the study of physical oceanography and plate tectonics also.
Petroleum Geology: Helps in oil extraction and exploration by studying the sedimentary basins.
Sedimentology: Study of rocks (sedimentary rocks), sedimentary formations, erosion and strata.
