Earth Science

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Lava flows from the Kīlauea volcano into the ocean on the island of Hawaii.

Earth science (also known as the Earth Sciences, geoscience, or the geosciences) is an umbrella term for the sciences related to the planet Earth. The main disciplines within Earth science include geology, geodesy, geophysics, soil science, oceanography, hydrology, glaciology, and atmospheric sciences. These disciplines are oriented toward studying the various areas or "spheres" of the Earth system, such as the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere.

Earth science is arguably a special case in planetary science, being the only known life-bearing planet. Given the numerous interactions between the Earth's spheres, many modern fields of earth science are formed with interdisciplinary approaches.

Earth's spheres

The above specialties do not operate in isolation. For example, to understand the circulation of the oceans, one must study the interactions between the ocean, atmosphere, and Earth's rotation.

Interdisciplinary fields

Other fields of research involve greater interdisciplinary interactions. Some of them are listed below.

Earth system science

Many scientists have begun using an approach known as Earth system science. They treat the entire Earth as a system in its own right, which develops as a result of positive and negative feedback between constituent systems. In the systems approach, scientists combine the use of computer models with global satellite and shipboard data, in attempting to understand the Earth's past and to predict its future behavior.

Complex computer models that seek to model several different parts of the Earth system and the interactions between them are known as Earth system models. Many are based on Global climate models and include sub-models for the ocean, atmosphere, biosphere, and other parts of the Earth system. The interactions are of particular importance when trying to understand changes over decades, centuries, and longer periods.

"Gaia theories" are formulated to explain the behavior of the Earth system in terms of the influence of the biosphere.

Partial list of the major Earth Science topics

Atmosphere

Biosphere

Hydrosphere

Lithosphere or geosphere

Pedosphere

Systems

Others

See also


Notes

  1. The International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) is a nongovernmental organization dedicated to the scientific study of the Earth and to the application of the knowledge gained to the needs of society. It was established in 1919. Its scope includes environmental preservation, reduction of the effects of natural hazards, and mineral resources.


General subfields within the earth sciences
Atmospheric sciences | Geodesy | Geology | Geophysics | Glaciology
Hydrology | Oceanography | Soil science
General subfields within the Natural sciences
Astronomy | Biology | Chemistry | Earth science | Ecology | Physics


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