Geology and Geophysics

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Geology is the study of the Earth. It includes composition and material, structure, processes and history. We have come a long way since then, with the theories of plate tectonics explaining the position of the continents, volcanoes and earthquakes, and evolution, the fossil record we see in the rocks. The emplacement of granites and their erosion can give us a grasp of the vast span of geological time, and geologists are the scientists who find most of the world’s natural resources. Geophysics is the study of the Earth by quantitative physical methods. It is an applied science and includes the Earth’s interior, crust, oceans, atmosphere and magnetosphere. Applications are broad and can include magnetic studies related to the Earth’s interaction with the Sun; plate tectonics and the interior of the Earth; petroleum and mineral exploration; environmental and engineering analyses; and even archaeological investigations. Special areas of study include the following, among others.