9781422269992

Chapter 1

WHAT DO GEOSCIENTISTS DO? WHAT IS GEOSCIENCE?

Geoscience is an interdisciplinary field in which scientists, engineers, technicians, technologists, and other science professionals study the earth, its geological structure, its meteorological conditions and atmosphere, and its other natural systems. People who work in the geosciences have educational backgrounds and training in geophysics, Earth science, geoscience, geochemistry, oceanography, soil science and agronomy, climatology, atmospheric science, geology, geography, environmental science, petroleum geology, glaciology, geophysics, limnology, space sciences, hydrology, paleontology, engineering (especially environmental, geological, hazardous waste management, mining, petroleum, and wastewater), and the social sciences (human geography, environmental planning, environmental economics, and other fields). Geoscientists study the past, measure present conditions, and create models and predictions of future geoscientific activity. They study and address critical issues such as global warming and climate change, energy

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