by Olivia Kay

Created on: December 02, 2008

Dirt, rocks, soil... interesting stuff, right? If you're a bit confused right now, that's to be expected; not everyone's interest is piqued by those words, however an earth scientist's would be.

So, what exactly is an earth scientist anyway? An earth scientist, also known as a geoscientist, is a professional who centers their studies around the physical features of the earth. They are interested in the geologic past and present of the Earth, searching for natural resources and making the environment a better place. Earth science contains two main disciplines of study, geology (the study of the composition, processes, and history of the earth) and geophysics (the study of the internal composition of the earth). Within those two disciplines are several specialaties, including, but certainly not limited to:

Geology

Engineering Geology- (adding geologic principles to the fields of civil and environmental engineering, aiding in construction projects)

Geochemistry- (studying the nature and distribution of chemical elements in groundwater and earth materials)

Glacial Geology- (studying glaciers and sheets of ice in depth)

Mineralology- (using the composition and structure of minerals to classify them)

Paleontology- (studying fossils to lean more about the geologic history of the earth)

Petroleum Geology - (searching for deposits of natural resources and mapping their findings)

Sedimentology- (studying various sediments on the quest for mineral deposits)

Stratigraphy- (studying rock formations and layers to gain an understanding of the environment that formed them)

Volcanology- (investigating volcanos to predict future eruptions and comprise safety plans)

Geophysics

Geodeistry- (studying specific characteristics of the earth, including size, shape, and rotation)

Geomagnetistry- (using measurements to explain the origin of the earth)

Oceanography- (studying the world's oceans and coastal waters)

Seismology- (studying earthquakes to both predict and understand them)

Earth scientists generally have at least a four-year bachelor's degree, and most have completed advanced studies and degrees as well. Depending on the specialty they work in, earth scientists may work indoors or outdoors and no matter what specialty they are in, they are constantly using new technology and making new discoveries, making investigations to discover the unknown. Earth scientists need to consider the location where they want to live when choosing a particular specialty as not all specialties are best studied in all areas of the world.

Although Earth science may not seem highly interesting at first glance, however if you look further into it, you'll find it's a very diverse field where there are many career opportunities. Earth scientists do not just have one job description that describes them all, but rather many that describe their particular specialty.

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