14 Earth Science Systems

Study of Earth's atmosphere, weather patterns, and climate systems

Long-term patterns of weather and climate variability

Study of weather systems and short-term atmospheric phenomena

Chemical composition and reactions in Earth's atmosphere

Reconstruction of past climates from geological and biological proxies

Physical, chemical, and biological study of the world's oceans

Study of inland water bodies including lakes, rivers, and wetlands

Movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth's surface

Study of groundwater distribution and movement in aquifers

Study of glaciers, ice sheets, and their role in the climate system

Study of permanently frozen ground and its sensitivity to warming

Physics of Earth's interior including seismic, magnetic, and gravity fields

Study of earthquakes and seismic waves to understand Earth's structure

Study of the forces and motion within Earth's interior

Study of Earth's lithospheric plates and their large-scale structural deformation

Study of minerals, their crystal structure and physical properties

Study of rocks and the conditions under which they form and change

Chemical composition and processes of Earth and planetary bodies

Determining the age of rocks, minerals, and geologic events

Study of landforms and the processes that shape Earth's surface

Study of sedimentary rocks and the processes that form them

Study of rock layers and their sequence in geological time

Study of ancient life through fossil records and evolutionary history

Reconstructing ancient environments from geological and biological records

Study of biological, geological, and chemical processes and their interactions

Intersection of geoscience with ecology and environmental science

Study of soil formation, classification, properties, and management

Study of the zone from bedrock to treetops where life and rock interact

Study of the origin, migration, and accumulation of oil and gas

Characterization of subsurface reservoir properties for fluid extraction

Harnessing Earth's internal heat for energy generation

Geological storage of CO₂ to mitigate climate change

Study of mineral deposits with economic value

Using geophysical methods to locate mineral and energy resources

Study of planets, moons, asteroids, and comparative planetary evolution

Study of natural hazards including earthquakes, floods, and landslides

Application of information science to geospatial and Earth data