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Which fields of study are included in Earth sciences?

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Earth sciences encompass the study of the solid Earth, its waters, and the atmosphere that surrounds it. These fields are broadly categorized into six groups:1

  • Hydrologic and Atmospheric Sciences: These include hydrology (water on and within the ground), glaciology (glaciers and ice caps), oceanography (oceans), meteorology (atmosphere and its phenomena), and climatology (world climates).1
  • Solid Earth Physical-Chemical Sciences: Disciplines such as mineralogy, petrology, geochemistry, structural geology, and geophysics.1
  • Geomorphology: The study of landforms and the processes that shape the Earth's surface.12
  • Geologic History: Includes paleontology (fossils), stratigraphy (sedimentary strata), and geochronology (age dating of rocks).12
  • Applied Earth Sciences: Practical applications involving natural resources (fossil fuels, minerals), geothermal energy, engineering geology, and the mitigation of natural hazards.1
  • Astrogeology: The study of the rock record on the Moon, planets, and their satellites.12