Characteristics of Earth Sciences

Earth science is the field of study which is mainly focused on the lithosphere that is solid Earth, its water and air. However, earth science encompasses all other sciences, including geologic, hydrologic, and atmospheric sciences. 

Before we understand the relationship between earth sciences and anthropology, let us understand the meaning of Earth sciences.

What are Earth Sciences?

The broad and essential aim of Earth sciences is to proactively understand the present features as well as past evolution of Earth and how this knowledge can be used by experts, researchers and ordinary citizens for the benefit of humankind. 

The physical environment that humans live in includes the solid Earth, water, and the air above them. 

These give rise to three important component disciplines of Earth sciences.. Today, with the essential and innovative advancements in science, there are a number of specialisations and sub disciplines that have evolved, which we are going to study in the next section.

Sub-disciplines of Earth Sciences

Earth Sciences can be categorised into five groups. They are as follows.

1. Those subjects generally deal with water and air that is above the solid surface of Earth. The study of water within the ground is called hydrology. The study of glaciers and ice caps are termed glaciology. The study of ice caps is known as glaciology, and atmosphere studies are termed meteorology. All these can be classified under hydrologic and atmospheric sciences.
2. Those subjects that are concerned with the chemical and the physical composition of the Earth include the study of minerals which is termed mineralogy, the study of rocks that is termed as petrology and geochemistry are some of the subdivisions of Earth sciences.
3. Another sub-discipline is the study of landforms which is termed geomorphology. This is mainly concerned with the terrestrial surface that exists presently and its processes.
4. The discipline that is concerned with the study of fossils is known as palaeontology, as well as age dating of rocks termed geochronology.
5. Apart from these, there are other disciplines that work with applied Earth sciences. These involve current as well as practical applications that are beneficial to society.

Anthropology and Earth Sciences

Earth Sciences and Anthropology have a very close relationship. However, since earth sciences include various sub-disciplines, their relationship can be categorised into three elements.

• Physical anthropology and geology

• Physical anthropology and geography

• Physical anthropology and pedology

Archaeology is closely related to geology as it helps experts analyse archaeological sites to date the past, and also find a proper sequence chronologically. The study of anthropology is mainly focused on prehistoric as well as proto-historical past.

To analyse and interpret different archaeological elements, anthropologists often require the expertise of geologists. It has also been seen that to find a proper and planned study of a region, it is important that the geology and the climate are studied. Thus, we can say that geology, as well as anthropology, share a very close relation.

Just like geology plays an important role in understanding different concepts of anthropology, geography plays a very important role in understanding the climatic conditions and different geological deposits, which might have played an important role in the activities of prehistoric communities.

Knowledge regarding different rock types is also important to understand different prehistoric cultures. Moreover, the analysis of soil, its dating, and the formation of deposits help anthropologists get an in-depth understanding of its formation and time.

Relationship of Geography with Socio-Cultural Anthropology

In Anthropology, there is a concept known as cultural ecology, which majorly explains that culture, as well as the environment, are not different spheres, but they are connected to each other reciprocally. Julian Steward gave this theory.

Julian Steward also introduced the two most important terms: cultural core and superstructure. Some of the aspects of culture are significantly related to the environment, and this forms the cultural core. The other aspects that are relatively less connected with the environment are known as superstructure. 

Thus, the cultural core gives an important relation on how even socio-cultural anthropology is closely related to earth sciences.

Importance of Earth Sciences

It is significantly important to understand the characteristics of Earth sciences as everything that we do in our everyday lives is connected to the physical Earth, be it its lands, oceans, plants, and animals. 

When we try to understand Earth science, we understand that it offers a closely related and interdisciplinary approach to understanding Earth and how knowledge from theoretical subjects like chemistry, physics, ecology and mathematics can be used by researchers and experts to tackle different issues.

Earth Science Literacy

There is also a term mentioned frequently, which is known as ‘Earth Science Literacy’. Earth science literacy plays a very important role today as we, the residents of Earth, face enormous challenges today, including dwindling energy sources, lack of mineral resources, climate change, and water shortages. All these are part of studies related to Earth sciences.

Hence, Earth science has become really important today, and we need experts as well as researchers to educate people about Earth sciences and make them Earth science literate. 

Conclusion

Now, you must have an in-depth understanding of Earth sciences’ characteristics and how anthropology is closely related to Earth sciences. Thus, it also concludes that anthropology is a very vast subject, and it encompasses even a foundational subject like Earth sciences. Without Earth sciences, anthropology is incomplete and vice-versa.