Definition of Geology:



Geology is the study of the Earth, the materials of which it is made, the structure of those materials, and the processes acting upon them. It includes the study of organisms that have inhabited our planet. An important part of geology is the study of how Earth’s materials, structures, processes and organisms have changed over time.


What Does a Geologist Do?



Geologists work to understand the history of our planet. The better they can understand Earth’s history the better they can foresee how events and processes of the past might influence the future. Here are some examples:

Geologists study earth processes: Many processes such as landslides, earthquakes, floods and volcanic eruptions can be hazardous to people. Geologists work to understand these processes well enough to avoid building important structures where they might be damaged. If geologists can prepare maps of areas that have flooded in the past they can prepare maps of areas that might be flooded in the future. These maps can be used to guide the development of communities and determine where flood protection or flood insurance is needed.

Geologists study earth materials: People use earth materials every day. They use oil that is produced from wells, metals that are produced from mines, and water that has been drawn from streams or from underground. Geologists conduct studies that locate rocks that contain important metals, plan the mines that produce them and the methods used to remove the metals from the rocks. They do similar work to locate and produce oil, natural gas and ground water.

Geologists study earth history: Today we are concerned about climate change. Many geologists are working to learn about the past climates of earth and how they have changed across time. This historical geology news information is valuable to understand how our current climate is changing and what the results might be.


  • contour intervals
space between contour lines: the interval between contour lines on a map, or the altitude the interval represents

*Crust
geology solid outer layer of Earth: the thin outermost layer of Earth, approximately one percent of Earth's volume, that varies in thickness and has a different composition from the interior. Other terrestrial planets are believed to have crusts.

*data:

factual information: information, often in the form of facts or figures obtained from experiments or surveys, used as a basis for making calculations or drawing conclusions

*hydrosphere:

all water on earth: the portion of Earth's surface that is water, including the seas and water in the atmosphere

*international date line:

line where the date changes: an internationally agreed imaginary line running roughly along the 180º meridian of longitude, to the east of which the date is one day earlier than to the west

*dependant variable:
determined number: an element in a mathematical expression that changes its value according to the value of other elements present

*theory:
scientific principle to explain phenomena: a set of facts, propositions, or principles analyzed in their relation to one another and used, especially in science, to explain phenomena

*geographic map:

a geographic map is a map that showsthe mountains, rivers, streams, and physical features.
*legend: a key to a map.

external image images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSERFR4jpSlng2AhFuvf94scLaX-ss8ZM0xfbER46z0FgpbBXCxq9clXSjPgeographic map

crust:
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legend:
See full size image
See full size image


hydroshpere
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