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Geoscientists study waterThere is no other planet like Earth in our Solar System: no other planet is both rocky and has flowing water at its surface. Without water, life as we know it could not exist. Although our planet is covered by seemingly vast oceans, only a small fraction of the water on Earth is fresh, and even less is readily accessible. As the population grows, it becomes more important to understand how to manage and protect our fresh water supply.Water is very useful. It generates electricity and waters the grains, fruits and vegetables that people and animals eat. It can also be very dangerous, causing much destruction from flooding and landslides. Concern about the purity of both surface and groundwater is a growing issue. If we misuse chemicals on our crops, lawns, or industry both surface and groundwater supplies may be contaminated.
Some geoscientists study water in streams, rivers, and underground. They measure rain and snowfall, how much runs off into streams, and how much filters through the soil and rocks into the underground water system. These geoscientists work with biologists, chemists, public health specialists, physicists, geologists and atmospheric scientists, who also have a personal and professional concern about water. What do we call these geoscientists? Hydrologists
Some geoscientists
study oceans. They investigate how biology, geology, meteorology,
physics, and chemistry interact to shape the marine environment. They
have discovered that the floor of Earth's oceans has high mountains,
deep valleys, shelves and slopes, and is as varied as the surface
of the land. Some of these geoscientists study how tides and storms
move sand to and from beaches. Because a large percentage of Earth's
population lives within 50 miles of a coast, understanding these processes
is very important. They also investigate how the oceans move heat
around our planet, and they work with meteorologists to predict changes
in weather and climate. This team is now better able to predict and
monitor El Niņo and La Niņa events, which are warm and cold ocean
currents that have a big impact on weather. Many geoscientists concentrate
their attention on the chemical composition of ocean water. Most of
the substances in seawater come from the land, where they have been
dissolved and then carried by rivers to the oceans. Some of these
substances are pesticides, herbicides, and other waste products from
human activities. These geoscientists work with marine biologists
to understand the impact that toxic chemicals
are having on marine plants and animals. They use ships, deep submersibles,
fixed platforms, underwater laboratories, aircraft, and Earth-orbiting
satellites to learn about our environment. What do we call all these
geoscientists? Oceanographers |