Geology is the study of the Earth. In general a geologist will examine the structure, processes, composition, and materials in an effort to understand the history of the Earth.

As a discipline of study Geology includes several special areas of study including:

• Environmental Geology: the study of changes to the environment including pollution and climate change.

• Geochemistry: the study of the distribution of chemicals in the Earth and atmosphere.

• Geomorphology: the study of landforms and underlying structures.

• Geophysics: the study of the Earth by quantitative physical methods, using applied science to study the Earth’s interior, crust, oceans, atmosphere and magnetosphere.

• Historical Geology: the study of the Earth’s evolution.

• Hydrogeology: the study of both ground and surface waters.

• Paleobotany: the study of plant life in the geologic past.

• Paleogeography: the study of Physical Geology in the geologic past.

• Paleontology: the study of past life observed in the geologic record (fossils).

• Physical Geology: the study of processes, materials and morphology of the Earth.

• Sedimentology: the study of sediment deposition.

• Seismology: the study of earthquake activity, the causes and effects.

• Stratigraphy: the study of relationships of rock strata.

• Structural Geology: the study of geologic structures such as faults and folds.

• Tectonics: the study of large scale Earth structures such as tectonic plates and its deep interior.

• Volcanology: the study of volcanoes and volcanic processes.