EARTH SCI S1 | Earth Science:
An Introduction and its Branches
Earth science is the collection of different
sciences that study everything about Earth. It
deals with the physical nature of the Earth's
materials, including rock and landscapes,
oceans and water resources, and the
atmosphere.
Earth Science encompasses the study of all
facets of the Earth's physical environment, but
can apply to other planets and stellar objects as
well.
The Earth Sciences
 Geology
 Hydrology and oceanography
 Meteorology
 Astronomy
A. GEOLOGY
Literally means the study of the earth. It
describes the structure of the Earth on and
beneath its surface, and the processes that have
shaped that structure.
Geology is divided into two major fields:
 Physical Geology
 Historical Geology
Physical Geology
It is concerned with the composition of the earth
and the processes associated with the dynamic
earth such as mountain building, earthquakes,
erosion and volcanic activities.
 Seismology
It is the scientific study of earthquakes and
related phenomena, such as volcanic eruptions.
Earthquakes occur when the tectonic plates that
make up the Earth's crust shift and release
energy in the form of waves.
 Mineralogy
It is the systematic study that extensively covers
description, crystallography, physical, chemical
and environmental features of all minerals.
 Geomorphology
Geomorphology is the study of the nature, origin
and processes of change of landforms.
 Geophysics
Geophysics, studies the physical phenomena of
the Earth which includes its magnetic field, the
interior and gravity.
 Geochemistry
Geochemistry is concerned with the chemical
composition of the Earth.
 Historical Geology
Aims to understand what happened in the
Earth’s past which dates back to as old as 4.6
billion years.
B. HYDROLOGY
It is concerned with the Earth’s water. It is the
study of freshwater, the water we find in rivers
and underground.
C. OCEANOGRAPHY
It is the study of the Earth’s oceans, including
their physical properties, chemistry, biology and
how they interact with the planet’s atmosphere
and geology.
D. METEOROLOGY
Meteorology is a science that deals with the
Earth’s gaseous blanket, the atmosphere.
Meteorology entails the systematic study of
weather and its causes, and provides the basis
for weather forecasting.
E. CLIMATOLOGY
Climatology is the study of climate and how it
changes over time. This science helps people
better understand the atmospheric conditions
that cause weather patterns and temperature
changes over time.
F. ASTRONOMY
Astronomy is the study of everything in the
universe beyond Earth's atmosphere. That
includes objects we can see with our naked
eyes, like the Sun, the Moon, the planets, and
the stars. It also includes objects we can only
see with telescopes or other instruments, like
faraway galaxies and tiny particles.