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Geologist

"The Geologist" - Carl Spitzweg, circa 1860
Occupation
Names	geologist
Activity sectors	Government Mining Petroleum industry Engineering
Description

Geologists exploring Jurassic sedimentary rocks in Makhtesh Gadol, Negev Desert, Israel

A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using physics, chemistry and biology as well as other sciences. Geologists, compared to scientists engaged in other fields, are generally more exposed to the outdoors than staying in laboratories; although some geologists prefer to perform most of their studies in the lab.

Geologists are engaged in exploration for mining companies in search of metals, oils, and other Earth resources. They are also in the forefront of natural hazards and disasters warning and mitigation, studying earthquakes, volcanic activity, tsunamis, weather storms, and the like; their studies are used to warn the general public of the occurrence of these events. Currently, geologists are also engaged in the discussion of climate change, as they study the history and evidence for this Earth process.

Training / Schooling[link]

Students at geology field school, University of Zimbabwe

Their training typically includes significant coursework in physics, mathematics, and chemistry, in addition to classes offered through the geology department; historical and physical geology, igneous and metamorphic petrology and petrography, hydrogeology, sedimentology, stratigraphy, mineralogy, palaeontology, physical geography and structural geology are among the many required areas of study. Most geologists also need skills in GIS and other mapping techniques. Geology students often spend portions of the year, especially the summer though sometimes during a January term, living and working under field conditions with faculty members (often referred to as "field camp"). Many non-geologists often take geology courses or have expertise in geology that they find valuable to their fields; this is common in the fields of geography, engineering, chemistry, urban planning, environmental studies, among others.

Geologist mud logging, common in petroleum and water-well drilling

Areas of specialization[link]

Geologists may concentrate their studies or research in one or more of the following disciplines:

• Dendrochonology: the study of dating based on tree ring patterns.
• Economic geology: the study of ore genesis, and the mechanisms of ore creation, geostatistics.
• Engineering geology: application of the geologic sciences to engineering practice for the purpose of assuring that the geologic factors affecting the location, design, construction, operation and maintenance of engineering works are recognized and adequately provided for;
• Geophysics: the applied branch deals with the application of physical methods such as gravity, seismicity, electricity, magnetic properties to study the earth.
• Geochemistry: the applied branch deals with the study of the chemical makeup and behaviour of rocks, and the study of the behaviour of their minerals.
• Geochronology: the study of isotope geology specifically toward determining the date within the past of rock formation, metamorphism, mineralization and geological events (notably, meteorite impacts).
• Geomorphology: the study of landforms and the processes that create them
• Hydrogeology: the study of the origin, occurrence and movement of groundwater water in a subsurface geological system.
• Igneous petrology: the study of igneous processes such as igneous differentiation, fractional crystallization, intrusive and volcanological phenomena .
• Isotope geology: the study of the isotopic composition of rocks to determine the processes of rock and planetary formation.
• Metamorphic petrology: the study of the effects of metamorphism on minerals and rocks.
• Marine geology: the study of the seafloor; involves geophysical, geochemical, sedimentological and paleontological investigations of the ocean floor and coastal margins. Marine geology has strong ties to physical oceanography and plate tectonics.
• Palaeoclimatology: the application of geological science to determine the climatic conditions present in the Earth's atmosphere within the Earth's history.
• Palaeontology: the classification and taxonomy of fossils within the geological record and the construction of a palaeontological history of the Earth.
• Pedology: the study of soil, soil formation, and regolith formation.
• Petroleum geology: the study of sedimentary basins applied to the search for hydrocarbons (oil exploration).
• Sedimentology: the study of sedimentary rocks, strata, formations, eustasy and the processes of modern day sedimentary and erosive systems.
• Structural geology: the study of folds, faults, foliation and rock microstructure to determine the deformational history of rocks and regions.
• Volcanology: the study of volcanoes, their eruptions, lavas, magma processes and hazards.

Employment[link]

The rock hammer and hand lens (or loupe) are two of the most characteristic tools carried by geologists in the field.

Professional geologists work for a wide range of government agencies, private firms, and non-profit and academic institutions. They are usually hired on a contract basis or hold permanent positions within private firms or official agencies (such as the USGS).

Local, state, and national governments hire geologists to work on geological projects that are of interest to the public community. The investigation of a country's natural resources is often a key role when working for government institutions; the work of the geologist in this field can be made publicly available to help the community make more informed decisions related to the exploitation of resources, management of the environment and the safety of critical infrastructure - all of which is expected to bring greater wellbeing to the country.^[1] This 'wellbeing' is often in the form of greater tax revenues from new or extended mining projects or through better infrastructure and/or natural disaster planning.

An engineering geologist is employed to investigate geologic hazards and geologic constraints for the planning, design and construction of public and private engineering projects, forensic and post-mortem studies, and environmental impact analysis. Exploration geologists use all aspects of geology and geophysics to locate and study natural resources. In many countries or US states without specialized environmental remediation licensure programs, such as Rhode Island and North Carolina, the environmental remediation field is often dominated by professional geologists, particularly hydrogeologists, with professional concentrations in this aspect of the field. Petroleum and mining companies use mudloggers and large-scale land developers use the skills of geologists and engineering geologists to help them locate oil and minerals, adapt to local features such as karst topography or earthquake risk, and comply with environmental regulations.

Geologists in academia usually hold an advanced degree in a specialized area within their geological discipline and are employed by universities.

See also[link]

"Picturesque camp made by a lone geologist on the cinders of Inferno," 1921

• List of geologists
• List of Russian geologists
• Petroleum geologist

References[link]

External links[link]

• Information on requirements for Geology courses in the US

James O. "Jim" Berkland is an American geologist studying earthquake prediction. He claims to have developed a method for predicting earthquakes, and offers his predictions through media appearances and publications. Before his retirement, Berkland was the County Geologist for Santa Clara County, California for twenty-one years. He previously worked for the United States Bureau of Reclamation and for the United States Geological Survey. He has published over fifty scientific papers.

Career[link]

Jim Berkland studied geology at the University of California, Berkeley, earning the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1958. Thereafter he worked for the United States Geological Survey while pursuing graduate study. In 1964, he took a position at the United States Bureau of Reclamation.^[1] After further graduate study, he taught for a year at Appalachian State University, 1972–1973, then returned to California to work as County Geologist for Santa Clara County from 1973 until he retired in 1994.^[2]

In an interview published on October 13, 1989, one day before the start of baseball's 1989 World Series, Berkland predicted that an earthquake with magnitude between 3.5 and 6.0 would occur in the San Francisco Bay Area between October 14 and October 21.^[3][4] The 6.9-magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake occurred on October 17, just before the start of the third game of the Series. Berkland claims that government officials told him not to make any more predictions, fearing mass panic, and he was suspended for two months from his Santa Clara County geology position in late October, 1989.^{[citation needed]}

In an announcement on his Web site, Berkland predicted an earthquake for January 9–14, 2009.^[5]

Interviewed on Fox News in March 2011, Berkland predicted an earthquake in California for sometime between March 19 and March 26, 2011. He cited as factors the highest tides in 18 years and the proximity of the Moon, suggesting that the quake will most likely strike on Saturday, March 19, 2011.^[6] An earthquake sufficient to fulfill that prediction was not reported.

Methodology[link]

Berkland is a proponent of the Seismic Window Theory. According to Berkland, "Moon proximity" and "fish deaths and beachings" can be used as signs of potential earthquakes.^[7]

Berkland claims to use tidal flooding tables based upon lunar perigee (when the Moon is closest to Earth, which affects gravitational pull) and the twice-monthly alignment of the Sun and Moon, creating a "window" of opportunity or increased probability of an earthquake being triggered. He also considers strange animal behavior, such as the number of notices in newspapers for lost or runaway pets, as well as the mass beaching of whales and dolphins. He attributes the strange behaviors to radical changes in the Earth's magnetic field just prior to earthquakes and in the general area of the quakes. He says that, when these changes occur, they interfere with the sea mammals', and even the migratory birds', ability to navigate, which explains the mass beachings. He says even dogs and cats can sense the disruptions, which explains elevated rates of runaway-pet reports. Research on Earth's magnetic field and how it is affected by moving tectonic plates and earthquakes is ongoing.^{[citation needed]}

Scientific criticism[link]

Scientists critical of his methods have reviewed and rejected several statistical correlations advocated by Berkland and others in predicting earthquakes, including lost pets^[8] and syzygy of the moon.^[9]

Media appearances[link]

Berkland has been a guest many times on the late-night radio program Coast to Coast AM, created by Art Bell. On television, he has been seen on Frontline, Sightings, Strange Universe, Town Meeting, and many other programs. He was also the subject of the 2006 book by Cal Orey, The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes: Jim Berkland, Maverick Geologist — How His Quake Warnings Can Save Lives (Sentient Publications) ISBN 1-59181-036-1.

On his Web site and in a monthly newsletter, Berkland details the signs and indicators that he uses for his predictions. He also lists dozens of major earthquakes he claims to have predicted.

Publications and associations[link]

Berkland has issued over 50 publications in geology. He is a member of the Association of Engineering Geologists, the Peninsula Geological Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America, and has taught geology at San Jose State University.

See also[link]

• List of earthquakes
• List of solar eclipses
• Earthquake sensitive

Notes[link]

Further reading[link]

• Hunter, Roger (September 2006), "Can Jim Berkland predict earthquakes?", Skeptical Inquirer 30 (5) 
• Deming, David (Spring 2007), "Earthquake Prediction, Kooks, and Syzygy: A Review of The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes", Journal of Scientific Exploration 21 (2): 373–382 
• McClellan, Patrick (Spring 2007), "Review Essay: The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes — Jim Berkland, Maverick Geologist: How His Quake Warnings Can Save Lives by Cal Orey", Journal of Scientific Exploration 21 (2): 383–395 

External links[link]

• www.SyzygyJOB.com — Berkland's Web site (last updated June 2010)
• Author's description of the book "The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes"
• Raffaele Bendandi (1893–1979), earthquake researcher (in Italian)
• "Can the Moon Cause Earthquakes?" article at nationalgeographic.com