glaciologists study glaciers and ice.
None of these scientific endeavors would be possible without geographers who explore the
featuresofthesurfaceandworkwithcartographers, whomakemaps. Stratigraphyisanother
area of Earth science which examines layers of rock beneath the surface (Figure1.19). This
helps us to understand the geological history of the Earth. There is a branch of science for
every interest and each is related to the others.
Figure 1.19: Folded strata are layers in the rock that have bent over time. Stratigraphy
attempts to explain these layers and the geologic history of the area. ( 18 )
Review Questions
- What are three major branches of Earth science?
- What branch of science deals with stars & galaxies beyond the Earth?
- List important functions of Earth scientists.
- What do you think is the focus of a meteorologist?
- A meteorologist studies the atmosphere. This includes weather and climate changes
as well as global warming - An ecologist notices that an important coral reef is dying off. She believes that it has
to do with some pollution from a local electric plant. What type of scientist might
help her analyze the water for contamination? - Design an experiment that you could conduct in any branch of Earth science. Identify
the independent variable and dependent variable. What safety precautions would you
have to take?