Things you must know about the study of the earth!

The study of the earth is something we have been learning since our school years. At that time, we learned about ecosystems, organisms, the extinction of dinosaurs, volcanoes, the rain cycle, etc. It is the basic knowledge we have gathered over these years. Each of these elements has a lot more for us to study. 

The study of the earth is a vast field filled with various branches of science. In this article, we will learn about them and where you can get professional knowledge. 

Let’s get started.

What is the study of the earth?

The study of the earth is often called earth science. It includes the earth’s structure, properties, processes, and history of evolution. The earth has been through about 4.5 billion years of bionic evolution. This leaves us with a lot of interesting phenomena to study. Earth science or the study of the earth includes xactly that. 

Along with the functioning of the earth, this study of the earth also includes neighboring planets. It studies the cosmos and its elements that affect our lives on earth.  

Earth science has specializations like geologic, hydrologic, and atmospheric sciences. It studies the ecosystems on land and underwater. It also explores the four spheres: which are the biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere. Earth scientists are working on making lives better on earth by restoring the earth’s health. 

Four types of earth sciences

Earth science has four types. They are specialization subjects. You can choose any one subject to finish your education and continue your research. The four types are as follows.

• Geology- This is known as the primary branch of earth science. It is known as the study of the earth and the ecosystems. You can pursue a graduate degree in B.Sc in geology. Geology involves the composition of the earth’s materials, structure, and processes. Geologists search for fuel and minerals, study natural calamities, and find a way to protect the earth from global warming. 
• Meteorology- This type of earth science studies atmospheric changes. It analyzes the changes in the four spheres in the environment. Meteorology studies the processes in the atmosphere that determine the weather and climate on earth. It is one of the essential streams of science that directly affects our daily lives. Meteorologists analyze and predict the weather to prepare us for extreme conditions. 
• Oceanography- This is the science of the ocean. It studies the ocean’s composition, process, organisms, and movement. As you may know, the ocean covers over 75% of the earth’s surface. Humans have only discovered over 20% of the ocean. Oceans are a resource for food, commodities, and energy. It can drive changes in the environment. Oceanographers are researching making it a resource for humans while minimizing our interference with its ecosystems. 
• Astronomy- It is the study of the cosmos. Astronomy deals with the elements of the universe that affect life on the earth. For example, the moon affects the tides in the ocean, and the sun is the source of life. Other cosmic activities also affect life on earth. Astronomers study these activities and their effects to understand our planet better. They also try to understand the planets outside our solar system. 

Courses for studying the earth 

If you want to pursue a career in earth science, some courses can help you understand it better. You need to choose your field of specialization before choosing a course. There are some sub-division as well that you can study. Here’s the list of some popular courses in earth science. 

Bachelor’s degree	Master’s degree
B.Sc in earth science	M.Sc in georesources engineering
B.Sc in applied geosciences	M.Sc in marine geoscience
B.Sc in earth and environmental sciences	Master in geology and geophysics
B.S in oceanography	M.Sc in earth science and engineering
B.Sc (Hons) in biological sciences	Master in energy geoscience

Universities to apply

You can apply for these courses anywhere in the world. The United States hosts the most preferred universities in the world to study earth sciences. Let’s look at the top 5 universities in the United States by their ranking. 

No.	University	Rank
1	Massachusetts institute of technology	2
2	Harvard University	3
3	California institute of technology	5
4	Stanford University	5
5	The University of California, Berkley	7

Key takeaways

• Earth science, or the study of the earth, is essential to understand the happenings in the environment.
• We are facing the most dangerous threat to humanity, global warming, and earth science is a way to find a solution.
• One of the sub-divisions of earth science is paleontology. 

We hope you find this article interesting. Write to us your comments. Click here to read more such articles.

Liked this blog? Read next: Physical features of India | Let’s explore India in its truest sense

FAQs

Q1. What are the three types of geography?

Answer: Physical, environmental, and human are the three types of geography.

Q2. Who is the father of science?

Answer: Galileo Galilei is known as the father of modern science.

Q3. Are environmental science and earth science the same?

Answer: Earth science studies rocks and minerals, whereas environmental science studies life on the earth.