Within the sciences that study our planet is geology. The person who studies and exercises on geology is known by the name of geologist. There are many people who do not know what does a geologist do.
For this reason, we are going to dedicate this article to telling you what a geologist does and what its importance is for the conservation of the planet.
What does a geologist do?
To enter this world of research and knowledge of the earth, we must first understand the concept of these professionals, what a geologist is, what he does, the one in charge of studying the origin and the earth. The evolution of the Earth, considering all the natural resources it can provide.
Geological engineers represent the profession in charge of investigating, investigating, understanding and delving into everything related to the earth we inhabit, including oceans, lakes, jungles and everything that surrounds them in this study.
What is a geologist and what he does has a lot to do with the study of rocks, soils, fossils and mountainsThanks to them, the evolution of humanity, the separation of continents, the formation of geological structures, the composition of volcanoes, and many advances in geological problems have resulted in great discoveries. Furthermore, the study of historical geology contributes to our understanding of these processes over time, a topic you can explore further in our article on historical geology.
Geological engineers carry out many activities in their mission to understand the planet and develop technologies for humans without having dire effects on the planet.
What a geologist is and what he does will focus on specific objectives depending on the branch of geology in which he specializes. But even so, these experts have a responsibility to understand and act on:
- Study the internal and external composition of the Earth.
- Study the distribution of tectonic plates.
- They investigate past climates, such as those that occurred in the history of the periodic table.
- They investigate the extraction of minerals.
- Oil and gas exploration and water resources research.
- They prevent natural disasters.
It is important to point out what a geologist is and what he does, in addition to these activities, experts in the field have identified the causes of earthquakes, ice ages, the evolution of life, and identified techniques to prevent groundwater pollution, oil extraction Many theories, such as new technologies and how to prevent landslides, have been put into practice and achieved good results.
Branches of studies of a geologist
There are many branches of geology, but all focus in one way or another on the conservation and study of the planet. Let's take a look at the most important branches to understand what a geologist is and what he does:
Geological Engineering
From geoengineering, building design and construction to applied research to maintain the environmental balance, soil conservation, prevention of deforestation, etc., to carry out projects based on avoiding natural impacts. Mineralogy also plays a crucial role in these studies, and its importance is reflected in the analysis of materials in various areas. You can learn more about this topic by visiting the article on mineralogy.
Environmental Geology
Solving environmental problems is part of the geologist's job. From the environmental geology, the study and control of difficulties in water, land, animals, plants, human activities, and natural processes. Furthermore, the work of geologists is fundamental to understanding how our actions affect the environment. In this regard, you can learn more about the relationship between geology and water in our article on hydrogeology.
Geochemistry
What is a geologist and his work in geochemistry is related to the study and composition of rocks and fluids. In addition, he analyzes the chemical processes that take place in the interior of the Earth and its outer layers.
geomorphology
The study of changes in the Earth's surface caused by different chemical reactions, evolution, and various processes is part of the activities of these professionals. They may also address the impact of these changes on the environment and human life. To better understand how these changes occur, you can learn more about the earth on its axis.
Geophysics
What a geologist is and their job is to study geophysics, which includes analyzing earthquakes, gravitational effects, geomagnetism, etc. What geophysicists do is search for mineral and oil deposits. This process is fundamental for identifying useful resources and preventing natural disasters, something that is essential since geologists also study the impact of volcanoes on our planet, as mentioned in the article about the volcanoes of Hawaii.
Hydrogeology
This branch studies groundwater and surface water, their behavior under natural influence, their mass, and their movement. In this context, it is important to consider the relationship between hydrogeology and the conservation of water resources in general. Furthermore, it is interesting to highlight the relationship between water studies and the Mars colonization.
Oceanography
There are specialists in the field of oceanography in the field, working on the study of the seafloor, ocean chemistry, meteorological oceanography, and climate change, as well as the study of waves and currents. Marine geologists belong to this discipline and contribute to the understanding of human impact on ocean ecosystems.
paleontology and fossils
Paleontologists study fossils, from microbes to dinosaurs. This analysis is crucial to understanding the history of life on Earth and the evolution of species over time, and is directly related to the history of the periodic table.
Sedimentology
Studying the sediments of the Earth, how they are grouped, mixed and how they become sedimentary rocks is also part of the work of these experts.
Seismology
Earthquakes, controlled sources, or explosions are studied through seismology and are extremely beneficial in predicting dangerous earthquakes, mapping the interiors of planets, and exploring for resources.
Structural geology
The study of rock deformation, plate tectonics, and fault deformation is part of the job of a structural geologist.
Unconventional energies and geologists of the future
What a geologist is and what he does also corresponds to the study of terrestrial energy, geothermal energy, wind energy and tidal energy. This is a growing field that promotes projects of great importance for the conservation of the planet.
Volcanology and Volcanoes
Studying volcanoes, their formation, location, and predicting their eruptions is one of the things geologists do, as well as studying the rocks produced by different types of eruptions and natural eruptions. Research on volcanoes is fundamental, as part of the studies conducted by NASA, for example, and you can find additional information on this in the article on volcanoes.
In general, geology seems to immerse itself in many fields of science and research, oil, coal, natural gas, geothermal, mining or mining, land use planning, metals, agriculture, these are just some of the disciplines that define what a geologist does.
The research carried out by these experts has the ability to minimize the impact or damage caused by natural disasters and the risks that can be predicted in a timely manner. There is no doubt that this is a rewarding career, and our knowledge of our beautiful planet is due to your in-depth research.
salary of a geologist
As for the salary of a geologist, it will depend on the knowledge and experience he has, in this sense, the income is approximately the following:
- Geology professionals with less than 1 year of experience earn an annual salary of $48,769.
- If your time in the job market is between 1 and 4 years, the average salary of a geologist is $53,093 per year.
- Between 5 and 9 years of experience, you'll get an estimated $65,720 per year.
- If the geologist is more than 10 years old but less than 20, his annual salary will be $78.820.
- If you have more than 20 years of experience, your annual salary will be about $97.426.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about what a geologist does and what its importance is.
