| H | uman Health and the Environment |
|---|---|
| O | cean and Natural Resource Sustainability |
| M | itigating Hazards and Community Resilience |
| E | ffects of Climate Change |
Earth Sciences for our H O M E
Ocean and Natural Resource Sustainability
Soil
Soil is a combination of mineral and organic matter, water, and air. It has been called "Earth's living skin" because it is home to countless microorganisms that together support plant, animal, and human life. In fact, most of Earth's biodiversity is found in the soil and not above ground. Soil affects plant and crop production, influences climate, recycles nutrients, and neutralizes toxins. Erosion caused by soil mismanagement can have catastrophic affects. It has been said that scientists know more about the dark side of the moon than about the soil beneath our feet. Opportunities to study and preserve this important resource are plentiful.
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Groundwater
Water beneath Earth's surface is the second largest source of freshwater in the world, following ice sheets and glaciers. Groundwater is by far the largest reservoir of freshwater readily available to humans. It provides drinking water for more than 50% of Earth's population and supports much of the world's agriculture. While groundwater is a renewable resource, rates of use that exceed natural recharge from rainwater and seasonal meltwaters can cause serious problems such as streamflow depletion and land subsidence. Pollution caused by human activities and rising sea levels in some parts of the world are also major threats. Management of this resource is complex and involves both science and public policy.
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Oceans
Oceans and seas cover nearly 71% of Earth's surface. If all the saltwater they contain were to evaporate, a layer of salt nearly 200 feet (60 meters) thick would cover the ocean floor. Oceanography is an interdisciplinary science that draws on biology, chemistry, physics, and geology. Important topics of study include ocean and seafloor formation via plate tectonics, climate records of the past 200 million years found in ocean sediments, fascinating animal life found near vents in the ocean floor heated by molten rock below, and vast mineral resources found in ocean basins. The fact that 21% of Earth's population resides near coastlines makes the study of ocean-related natural hazards extremely important.
Learn more about oceans