Earth Science
The earth is home to every living thing, and all are fully dependent on the earth for survival. Earth science influences various human activities. The study of the earth helps us understand our planet’s interconnected systems.
With the background knowledge of earth science, we are able to determine the critical effects of humans on a physical and biological surrounding which can intern help us to manage our natural resources. It goes without a say that every human being living on planet earth must interact with something to do with earth science several times during their lifetime.
The earth is just a small part of the galaxy, which straddles the enormous expanse of the universe. The earth being so big, earth scientists who have been interested to know more have actually specialized in studying just some aspects of it. The components of the earth are enormous. Just to mention but a few; molten lava, icy mountain peaks, steep canyons, towering waterfalls, water bodies (oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams), and the living inhabitants, flora, and fauna.
In this article, you’ll understand in layman’s language how to define earth science, unconformity geology, what Ga stands for in geology, and how Earth Science relates to your daily life.
How Do You Define Earth Science?
It is a branch of science dealing with the physical and chemical constitution of the Earth and its atmosphere as a whole. Earth science has many branches, but the four major branches include; geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy.
Geology – is the study of the materials making up the earth, the structure of those materials, and the processes acting upon them. Geology is just one section of earth science and not similar to earth science, as many people have always assumed. All solid things like rocks, minerals, mountains, and canyons are part of geology. Geology has many branches as also. Some of them include; mineralogy, geodesy, and stratigraphy.
What Is An Unconformity Geology?
This is a break in the geological record when a boundary is formed between rocks caused by a period of erosion when there is a pause in sediment accumulation, followed by the deposition of sediments again.
Unconformities are classified according to their genesis. The common four types of unconformities include; angular unconformities, Para conformities, disconformities, or nonconformities.
What Does Ga Stand For In Geology?
Study shows that the earth is 4.54 billion years old. Knowing this doesn’t sound that important, but yes, it is important as understanding geological time is central to knowing our place in nature and history. Geologists measure past events in the earth’s history using conventions for abbreviating intervals of time. Ga is the geological abbreviation for “giga annum,” which is one-billion years. Kilo annum, abbreviated as “Ka” represents one-thousand years while “Ma” meaning “mega annum”, represents one million years.
- Oceanography – is the study of oceans; their composition, movement, organisms present therein, and processes. The largest portion of the earth’s surface, actually more than 70%, is covered with water, most of which form the oceans.
- Meteorology – is the study of the atmosphere and how various processes in the atmosphere determine Earth’s weather and climate.
- Astronomy – is the study of the entire universe beyond the earth. This consists of the study of the sun, moon, other terrestrial bodies and their influence on the earth system.
How Does Earth Science Relate To Your Everyday Life?
Everything on earth, whether living or non-living, is dependent on the earth. However, human beings tend to relate more to the earth and its environment. The study of earth science is, therefore, a concern to any human being living under the sun. Some of the human activities have negatively impacted the environment, which has, in turn, become the cause of many problems to human life.
Meteorologists study the weather and look out for dangerous storms. Weather changes, in most cases, have been a result of human activities. The smoke released from industries has greatly affected the environment.
If you’ve been asking yourself, “How does Earth Science relate to my daily life?” then consider checking out how important the careers listed below are.
Hydrologists examine water and warn of floods. Improper waste disposal, such as oil spillage and industrial wastes that have been drained in water bodies, have often affected aquatic life.
Geologists study rocks and help to locate useful minerals. Mining, though an economic activity that provides income, has always resulted in a lot of air and water pollution in the regions around the mines and factories where they are processed.
Seismologists study and monitor earthquakes worldwide. They can tell where the earthquake will strike and warn people earlier to move to safety.
