In this video you are going to learn
what we mean by the term geology
and explore how geology and society are
interconnected.
Take a minute think about what the term geology means to you.
We asked ourselves the exact same question. Here's what geology means to us.
Geology is the study of the origin, structure, composition, and history of Earth.
Geologists interpret rocks and fossils to unravel Earth's 4.5 billion year history.
They also look at the distribution and evolution of organisms on the planet and how that's changed.
Geology is also a study of Earth's internal structures,
as well as its surface landforms, and the processes that formed them.
We study these things to know how major features on Earth
like the continents and oceans have changed over time.
So if you've ever visited a glacier,
viewed a volcano,
explored a cave,
hiked a canyon,
canoed down a river,
or climbed a mountain,  you have directly interacted with geological processes and features.
But even on a more basic level, whether you knew it or not,
you have indirectly interacted with geology in your everyday life.
If you have brushed your teeth,
used a pencil,
looked out a window,
played with your phone,
turned on a light
or driven your car,
All of those small tasks required to geology to create the resources that make them possible.
Additionally, if we understand
geology we can identify the potential
risks from natural hazards, like volcanic
eruptions, flooding and landslides.
We can figure out where to find groundwater supplies to support agriculture in regions of low precipitation.
We can find and manage vital energy resources
and we can apply what we've learned here on Earth to explore our neighbors in space.
Geology can help us chart a path from unraveling the mysteries of early Earth
4.5 billion years ago to navigating the
most basic tasks we humans complete everyday.
From the microscopic to the mountain-sized, geology is all around you and it's study can help us
not only attempt to understand Earth, but to give us valuable information to protect it for future generations.
Review the learning objectives for today's lesson.
How confident are you that you can complete these tasks?
