What are the benefits of geology?

Benefits of Geology

Benefits from geology range from the practical to the abstract. The practical benefits are obvious...everything around us that is made from metal, stone or plastic was once buried in the ground. Geology (and especially geophysics) help us locate these resources and dig them up for use. However, they are not infinite and so recycled material should be used as much as possible. In fact oil (which is used for fuel and making plastics) will probably run out within the next 50 years.

Another crucial benefit is hazard prediction and monitoring. Geological hazards include earthquakes, volcanoes and landslides. Although prediction of events is still some way off (and some argue impossible), monitoring of volcanoes and fault zones can give indications of an event occurring. Similarly areas prone to landslides can be monitored. However, the main benefit of this prediction is the location of earthquakes (along plate boundaries), size and frequency distributions and enabling authorities to produce better building codes in vulnerable areas.

The more abstract benefits regard our (that is humans) place on this planet. This is mainly shown by evolution, for which palaeontology provides a lot of the evidence. Geology also gives us the history of this planet, from its birth some 4.6 Ga to the present day...far more than human history can tell us! This is becoming more important as global warming proceeds as past events (in the geological record) can give us some clues as to what may happen. A good example of this occurs in the glacial record when global temperatures fluctuated rapidly, causing vast sea level changes. The global warming trend occurs on top of this oscillation and may disturb/influence it.

If you can think of any more (and I'm sure there must be)...come and discuss this in the forums.