What are Earth sciences?

Earth sciences involve the study of the nature and evolution of our planet. The modern Earth sciences are rigorous and challenging, with strong links to physics, chemistry, biology, and physical geography. Earth scientists use their knowledge to enrich our understanding of Earth processes and resources to improve the quality of human life. They help connect us to our planet's past, manage our present, and prepare for our future. A good knowledge of Earth's systems, including the solid Earth, the atmosphere, the oceans, and organisms that live on the planet, is fundamental to the understanding and prediction of climate changes and geological hazards, discovery and development of natural resources, and the understanding of human impacts on the global environment.