Geology and Meteorology Overview

Definition: Study of the Earth, its materials, processes, and history.
Key Areas:
- Mineralogy: Study of minerals, their properties, and formations.
- Petrology: Study of rocks, including their origins and transformations.
- Stratigraphy: Analysis of rock layers (strata) and layering processes.
- Paleontology: Study of fossils and ancient life forms.
Processes:
- Plate Tectonics: Movement of Earth's plates, causing earthquakes and mountain formation.
- Erosion & Weathering: Processes that break down rocks and transport materials.

Definition: Study of the atmosphere and weather processes.
Key Concepts:
- Atmospheric Composition: Gases (nitrogen, oxygen, CO2) and particles in the atmosphere.
- Weather vs. Climate: Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions; climate is long-term patterns.
- Meteorological Phenomena: Includes storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and fronts.
Tools:
- Satellites: Monitor weather patterns and atmospheric changes.
- Radar: Used to track precipitation and storm systems.

Definition: Interdisciplinary study of the environment and solutions to environmental problems.
Key Areas:
- Ecology: Study of interactions between organisms and their environments.
- Conservation Biology: Focus on preserving biodiversity and ecosystems.
- Sustainability: Practices that meet current needs without compromising future generations.
Issues:
- Pollution: Air, water, and soil contamination and its impacts.
- Climate Change: Global changes driven by human activities, leading to rising temperatures and extreme weather.

Definition: Study of the Earth's physical properties and processes using principles of physics.
Key Techniques:
- Seismology: Study of seismic waves to understand Earth's interior.
- Magnetometry: Measuring Earth's magnetic field to investigate subsurface structures.
- Gravimetry: Measuring gravitational field variations to explore geological features.
Applications:
- Resource exploration (oil, gas, minerals).
- Natural hazard assessment (earthquakes, volcanic activity).

Inner Planets (Terrestrial):
- Mercury: Closest to the Sun, smallest planet, no atmosphere.
- Venus: Similar size to Earth; thick, toxic atmosphere; extreme greenhouse effect.
- Earth: Only known planet with life; supports water in all three states.
- Mars: Known as the Red Planet; evidence of past water; exploration by rovers.
Outer Planets (Gas Giants and Ice Giants):
- Jupiter: Largest planet; Great Red Spot (storm); many moons including Ganymede.
- Saturn: Known for its prominent ring system; gas giant with numerous moons.
- Uranus: Ice giant with a tilted axis; faint rings and many moons.
- Neptune: Farthest planet; strong winds and storms; known for its deep blue color.
Dwarf Planets:
- Pluto: Once considered the ninth planet; reclassified as a dwarf planet.
- Eris: Larger than Pluto; located in the Kuiper Belt.
Key Concepts:
- Orbital Characteristics: Each planet has unique orbits around the Sun.
- Moons & Rings: Many planets have natural satellites; some have extensive ring systems.

Focuses on Earth's materials, processes, and history.
Mineralogy: Investigates minerals, their characteristics, and how they form.
Petrology: Examines rock types, origins, and transformations through geological processes.
Stratigraphy: Analyzes rock layers (strata) and the processes behind layering.
Paleontology: Studies fossils to understand ancient life forms and ecosystems.
Plate Tectonics: Describes the movement of Earth's tectonic plates, leading to earthquakes and mountain formations.
Erosion & Weathering: Processes that break down rocks and transport sediments.

Investigates the atmosphere and the processes that influence weather.
Atmospheric Composition: Consists mainly of nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), and carbon dioxide (0.04%), along with various particles.
Weather vs. Climate: Weather represents short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate refers to long-term weather patterns.
Meteorological Phenomena: Covers storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and weather fronts.
Tools:
- Satellites: Help in monitoring atmospheric changes and weather systems.
- Radar: Tracks precipitation and storm developments in real-time.

An interdisciplinary field that addresses environmental challenges.
Ecology: Examines how organisms interact with each other and their habitats.
Conservation Biology: Concentrates on protecting biological diversity and ecosystems.
Sustainability: Advocates for practices that fulfill present needs without endangering future resources.
Issues:
- Pollution: Involves air, water, and soil contamination, impacting health and ecosystems.
- Climate Change: Driven by human activities, resulting in increased temperatures and extreme weather events.

Studies Earth's physical properties using physics principles.
Seismology: Focuses on seismic waves to learn about Earth's internal structure.
Magnetometry: Measures the magnetic field to reveal subsurface geological features.
Gravimetry: Analyzes gravitational field changes to investigate geological structures.
Applications: Includes resource exploration (oil, gas, minerals) and assessing natural hazards (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions).

Inner Planets (Terrestrial):
- Mercury: Closest to the Sun, no atmosphere, smallest planet.
- Venus: Similar in size to Earth, with a thick, toxic atmosphere and a severe greenhouse effect.
- Earth: The only planet with known life, featuring water in liquid, solid, and gas forms.
- Mars: Known for its red color; evidence suggests prior water presence; explored by motorized rovers.
Outer Planets (Gas Giants and Ice Giants):
- Jupiter: The largest planet, famous for the Great Red Spot, and has many moons including Ganymede.
- Saturn: Renowned for its extensive ring system and numerous moons.
- Uranus: An ice giant, characterized by its tilted axis, faint rings, and numerous moons.
- Neptune: The furthest planet, notable for intense winds and its deep blue visual.
Dwarf Planets:
- Pluto: Reclassified from ninth planet status to a dwarf planet due to its size.
- Eris: Larger than Pluto and located in the Kuiper Belt.
Key Concepts:
- Each planet has unique orbital characteristics around the Sun.
- Many planets possess natural satellites (moons) and some, like Saturn, feature elaborate ring systems.