Geology is necessary for humans to learn more about the earth.
A geologist is someone who studies the earth and the materials that make up its composition. Geologists may also study the effects of the earth's materials, such as rock formations like serpentinite, on various organisms. Geologists study natural earth processes such as earthquakes, landslides and volcanic eruptions. Like most scientific experts, geologists use various tools to help them in their day-to-day job.
Rain Gauges
A rain gauge is a funnel- or cup-shaped instrument that catches precipitation so that geologists can measure and read the precipitation levels -- just like a typical measuring cup. Rain can erode the earth, cause mudslides and floods and seep into rock to split it apart and erode it from the inside. Rain is actually a major part of what a geologist may study, even though it doesn't appear that way to the casual observer.
Seismometers
Seismometers are devices that measure motions under the ground. Any kind of significant motion that geologists can detect under the earth is almost always seismic waves that earthquakes, tremors and volcanic eruptions cause. Therefore, seismometers are endlessly useful in determining the strength of an earthquake or determining how the plate tectonics is shifting. Scientists have even speculated that they can predict earthquakes before they happen with the help of seismometers.
Core Drills
One aspect of geologists and their field of study is observing rock composition. One way to do this that has proven incredibly useful is to remove a part of a rock with a core drill. Core drills are specifically designed to remove a cylinder of material from a larger object. Because this preserves the removed material, geologists can easily observe the earth's cylinder. Geologists often use core drills in exploring minerals; they can find metals and other minerals in areas up to several thousand feet thick.
Ground-Penetrating Radar
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has proven invaluable in geology. It uses electromagnetic radiation to create radar pulses that image subsurface areas. GPR can penetrate the ground in such a way that wouldn't have been possible in the past without serious digging or blasting. GPR does have some drawbacks, however. GPR is all but useless in most soil, clay or earth with high electrical conductivity. In these cases, the radar may only penetrate a few centimeters.
Tags: earth materials, Rain Gauges, that geologists, volcanic eruptions
