Tuesday, April 8, 2014

G is for Geology

This is the same as last year but you know - I never tire of geology. It is a good thing that I teach it and do research in it for a living!

Geology is the study of the Earth, from the center out to the outer atmosphere. It encompasses rocks and minerals, the hydrosphere (ocean, rivers, ice), and the atmosphere and the weather that takes place in it.  It interfaces with biology as we study how the biosphere affects the soil and the atmosphere, and many other things. I've been told by astronomers that even the planets are considered the realm of planetary geologists, and astronomy begins beyond the Solar System.

I think my students are surprised that I spend only a week or two on rocks and minerals in the intro class, and we soon move on to plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, surface processes, the hydrosphere and the atmosphere.

I also find the natural world so beautiful: rocks, landscapes, seascapes, etc.

Viridian
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2 comments:

Unknown said...

I remember studying rocks and such as part of geology. I was always fascinated by geodes, pyrite and lava (pumice?).
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Bob Scotney said...

Having taken geology as an additional subject as part of my degree I can understand your love of it. So many people go around with their eyes shut and don't appreciate what they can see and learn from the land and seascapes. We still have a small collection of fossils in our garden.

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