Branches of Earth Science

OBJECTIVES Describe the four major branches of Earth Science. Identify four examples of Earth science that are linked to other areas of science.

BRANCHES OF EARTH SCIENCE How can we study anything as large and as complicated as our planet? We must divide the Earth into smaller areas of study. In this section, you will learn about some of the most common areas of study. You will also learn about some of the people that work within these areas.

GEOLOGY - SCIENCE THAT ROCKS Geology is the study of the origin, history, and structure of the Earth. Most geologists specialize in a certain area of study, such as a volcanologist who studies just volcanoes. Other examples of geologists include seismologists who study earthquakes, or paleontologists who study fossils.

OCEANOGRAPHY - WATER WATER EVERYWHERE Oceanography is the scientific study of the sea. Special areas of oceanography include: Physical - study physical features such as waves and currents. Biological - study the plants and animals in the ocean. Geological - study and explore the ocean floor for clues to the Earth’s history. Chemical - study amounts and distributions of natural and human made chemicals in the ocean.

EXPLORING THE OCEAN FLOOR Not long ago, people studied the ocean only from the surface. Now, as technology has advanced, scientists use miniature research submarines to go almost anywhere in the oceans. Alvin, is the name given to one famous research submarine.

BLACK SMOKERS One of the most exciting sites found on the ocean floor is a black smoker. A black smoker is a rock chimney on the ocean floor that spews black clouds of minerals. They are examples of hydrothermal vents, which is a crack in the ocean floor that releases very hot water from beneath the Earth’s surface. These minerals support rare types of life. The aquatic life includes blood-red tube worms that are 3.5 meters long, clams that are 30cm in diameter, and blind white crabs.

METEOROLOGY - IT’S A GAS Meteorology- is the study of the Earth’s atmosphere, especially in relation to weather and climate. One of the most common careers in meteorology is weather forecasting. Weather forecasting makes our daily lives more convenient and also sometimes, lives depend on these forecasts.

HURRICANES In 1928, a major hurricane hit Florida and killed 1,836 people. In contrast, a hurricane of similar strength - Hurricane Andrew, hit Florida in 1992 and killed 48 people. Why were there far fewer deaths in 1992? Two major reasons are hurricane tracking and forecasting. Meteorologists began tracking Andrew of Monday, 8-17-92. By the following Sunday, most of the people had evacuated, thus saving their lives.

TORNADOES An average of 780 tornadoes touch down each year in the United States. Some meteorologists track and chase tornadoes as a career. The information storm chasers gather help us to better understand and predict tornadoes and can help save lives.

ASTRONOMY - FAR, FAR AWAY Astronomy is the study of the universe. Astronomers study stars, asteroids, planets, and everything else in space. Because things in space are too far way to study directly, astronomers rely on technology it study objects in space. Optical telescopes are one way astronomers study objects in space. Optical telescopes have been used for hundreds of years. Galileo built one in 1609. Optical telescopes need light to see, so they cannot study very dark, distant objects. To study these objects you need a radio telescope, that uses radio waves instead of light to see.

STAR STRUCK Astronomers spend much of their time studying stars. Astronomers estimate that there are more than 100 billion billion stars in the universe. The most familiar star is our own sun. The sun is the closest star to Earth. For this reason, astronomers have studied the sun more than any other star.

SPECIAL BRANCHES OF EARTH SCIENCE There are branches of Earth Science that depend heavily on other areas of science. Environmental Science - is the study of how humans interact with the environment or how humans affect the environment. Environmental science relies on geology, life science, chemistry, and physics. Ecology - is the study of the relationships between organisms and their surroundings to better understand the behavior of these organisms. An ecologist is a person who studies a community of organisms and their environment. Ecologists work in many areas such as wildlife management, agriculture, and forestry.

SPECIAL BRANCHES OF EARTH SCIENCE Geochemistry - combines the study of geology and chemistry. Geochemists study the chemistry of rocks, minerals, and soil to determine what the environment was like when the rocks first formed. Physical geographers study the surface features of the Earth. Cartographers make maps of those features by using aerial and satellite photos, and computer mapping systems. Often, the location of a city is determined by geography. Many cities are located near water because transportation was available by boat and the water offered a food source such as fish. Rivers and lakes also provide communities with water for drinking and for raising crops and animals.

Branches of Earth Science https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T20RT0GgOB4 Branches of Earth Science 4:45