This
is a good week to explore the natural world and to learn about the
geosciences. It's also a good week to learn about careers in the
Earth sciences.
Check
out the official Earth Science Week website for activities and
resources and events.
What
are the Earth sciences?
Geology
is the study of rocks and minerals, Earth structures (such as the
mantle and core), tectonic plates (huge chunks of the Earth's crust
that slowly move about, creating continents and oceans), and
processes such as volcanic activity and erosion. 
Meteorology
is the study of the Earth's atmosphere, climates, and weather.
Astronomy
is the study of the universe.
It would seem that this is unrelated to the other Earth sciences,
which revolve around the study of, you know, the Earth—but remember
that the Earth and everything on it (including us!) is built of
materials created inside stars; also, the study of other planets and
bodies in the solar system help us to understand our own planet.
I
know that there are other names for particular sciences. My brother,
for example, is a geophysicist—someone who uses physical principles
to study the Earth. There are also geochemists, astrophysicists,
astrochemists, physical oceanographer, chemical oceanographer, and
many other specialists.
NASA
provides information on various Earth Science careers.
Also
on this date:
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