The presentation contains basic terms of Physical Geology which is related to Geology. It is a gross presentation including images and animated gif's for better understanding.
2. Table of Contents
Introduction
Scientific Method
Geology as a science
Why Geology?
Practical Aspects of Geology
Career in Geology
Branches of Geology
Physical Geology
Earth Systems
3. Introduction
Geology uses the scientific method to explain natural aspects of the Earth
such as
Solar system
Earth’s Interior
Volcanism
Mountain Building
Weathering
Transportation
Erosion
Plate tectonics
Earthquake
4. Scientific Method
Way of finding truth in the
word
Geology is a science and it
requires-
• Observations
• Measurements
• Interpretations
6. Geology as a science
Names came from Greek goddess “GAEA”, daughter of
Chaos.
Geology derives from Greek word “Geo” means Earth and
“Logos” means discourse/study.
The scientific study of the Earth-
How earth was formed
What earth is made of
How earth changes
9. Practical Aspects of Geology
• Natural Resources
All manufactured objects depend on Earth’s
resources
Localized concentrations of useful geological
resources are mined or extracted
If it can’t be grown, it must be mined
Most resources are limited in quantity and
non-renewable
12. Physical Geology
Concerned with
Earth materials as well as
The Processes that operate on those materials,
either at or beneath the surface of the Earth.
Earth materials: elements,
minerals,
rocks,
water
14. Earth Systems
Planet earth has some components which is termed as
earth systems/spheres
Atmosphere- gases that envelop Earth
Hydrosphere- water on or near Earth’s surface
Biosphere- all living or once-living materials
Geosphere- rock and other inorganic materials
15. Earth Systems
• Earth’s Heat Engines
- External (energy from the Sun)
• Primary driver of atmospheric (weather)
and hydrospheric (ocean currents)
circulation
• Controls weathering of rocks at Earth’s
surface
- Internal (heat moving from hot interior to
cooler exterior)
• Primary driver of most geospheric
phenomena (volcanism, magmatism,
tectonism)
29. Tectonic Plate Boundaries
• Divergent boundaries
– Plates move apart
– Magma rises, cools and forms new lithosphere
– Typically expressed as mid-oceanic ridges
• Transform boundaries
– Plates slide past one another
– Fault zones, earthquakes mark boundary
– San Andreas fault in California
• Convergent boundaries
– Plates move toward each other
– Mountain belts and volcanoes common
– Oceanic plates may sink into mantle along a subduction
zone, typically marked by a deep ocean trench
31. Theory of Plate Tectonics
• Continental Drift Hypothesis
– Originally proposed in early 20th century to
explain the “fit of continents”, matching rock
types and fossils across ocean basins, etc.
• Plate Tectonics Theory
– Originally proposed in the late 1960s
– Included new understanding of the seafloor
and explanation of driving force
– Describes lithosphere as being broken into
plates that are in motion
– Explains origin and distribution of volcanoes,
fault zones and mountain belts