THE FOUR BRANCHES OF

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• THE FOUR BRANCHES OF
• GEOSCIENCE

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Geoscience

• Geology
• Astronomy
• Oceanography
• Meteorology

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GEOLOGY

• The study of the solid Earth and the processes
  that shape it.

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ASTRONOMY

• The study of the universe beyond Earth

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OCEANOGRAPHY

• Study of the Earths oceans

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METEOROLOGY

• The study of the Earths atmosphere

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4 Branches of Geoscience
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Have you ever wondered why a volcano erupts? Or
felt the Earth shake?

• Long ago early humans saw these things happening
  and wondered why and how. To explain these
  natural phenomena ancient people forged myths and
  legends, attributing such events to powerful
  supernatural forces.

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• Angry goddesses hurled fire from volcanoes
  giants wrestled underground causing the Earth to
  shake.

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• Not until humans began to make careful
  observations and searched for natural causes did
  scientific study begin.

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• The Chinese began keeping written records of
  earthquakes as early as 780 B.C.

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• The Greeks compiled catalogs of rocks and
  minerals in the 3rd century B.C.

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• The Mayas in Central America, kept track of the
  movements of the Sun, moon, and planets.

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Why do you think they would watch the planets
move?
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• They used these observations to make accurate
  calendars

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• Why would you want to have a calendar?

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• Planting crops, fishing the tides, seasons, when
  to move, etc.

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What is Geoscience?

• The study of the Earth and of the universe around
  it

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• Earth science like most modern sciences are based
  on the assumption that the causes of natural
  phenomena can be discovered through careful
  observation and experimentation

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Review

• What is Geoscience?
• What are the four branches of Geoscience?