Geology is the science that provides the key to finding new sources of useful Earth materials and to understanding Earth processes that affect our lives. Geologists provide basic information to society for solving problems and establishing policy for resource management, environmental protection, public health, safety and welfare. By applying knowledge of forces that shape the Earth, geologists seek to reconstruct the past and anticipate the future. Geologists gather and interpret data about the Earth for the purpose of increasing our understanding and improving the quality of human life. Geologists study and help to mitigate natural hazards such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods and landslides.
Geologists investigate the materials, processes, products and history of the Earth.
Hydrogeologists study the abundance, distribution and quality of ground water. Environmental geologists work to solve problems with pollution, waste disposal and urban development and hazards such as flooding and erosion. Geomorphologists study the effects of Earth processes and investigate the nature, origin and development of present landforms and their relationship to underlying structures. Volcanologists investigate volcanoes and volcanic phenomena. Seismologists study the location and force of earthquakes and trace the behavior of earthquake waves to interpret the structure of the Earth.