Talk:Geophysics
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In my opinion meteorology and oceanography are treated as independent subjects, closely related to, but not part of geophysics. Knowledge and research have become so immense, that they warrant a discipline of their own.
Yes and no. The theoretical side of atmospheric science is treated as a classic example of geophysical fluid dynamics- i.e. the application of the physics of fluids to the Earth system. In that sense, the theoretical side of meteorology is very much a branch of geophysics. However, meteorology and oceanograpy are also independent subjects and should (and do) have their own entries.
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I suggest the following scheme:
Geophysics, the study of the earth by quantitative physical methods.
- Geophysics of the Atmosphere (Meteorology, climatology, upper air physics)
o Atmospheric electricity and terrestrial magnetism (including ionosphere
and Van Allen belt)
o Meteorology and Climatology, which both involve studies of the weather.
o Aeronomy, the study of the physical structure and chemistry of the
atmosphere.
- Geophysics of the oceans
o Physical Oceanography
- Geophysics of the solid Earth
+ Pure Geophysics
o Seismology (earthquakes and elastic waves)
o Gravity and geodesy (the earth's gravitational field and the size and
form of the earth)
o Geomagnetism (diurnal variations, dynamo theories)
o Geothermometry (heating of the earth, heat flow, volcanology,
and hot springs)
o Hydrology and glaciology (ground water, surface water and ice)
o Tectonophysics (dynamic processes in the earth)
+ Applied geophysics (exploration and engineering geophysics)
o Seismics
o electrical and electromagnetic methods
o gravity exploration
o magnetic exploration
o radioactivity
o Geophysical Engineering
o geomatics (applied geodesy)
o mineral physics
(Hans Erren 12:53, 31 August 2006 (UTC))
