geophysics

n. study of the physics of the Earth and its atmosphere

Geophysics, a branch of Earth sciences, is the study of the Earth by quantitative physical methods, especially by seismic, electromagnetic, and radioactivity methods. The theories and techniques of geophysics are employed extensively in the planetary sciences in general.The field of geophysics includes the branches of:Seismology (earthquakes and elastic waves)Gravity and geodesy (the Earth's gravitational field and the size and form of the Earth)Atmospheric science, which includes:Atmospheric electricity and terrestrial magnetism (including ionosphere, Van Allen belts, telluric currents, Radiant energy, etc.)Meteorology and Climatology, which both involve studies of the weather.Aeronomy, the study of the physical structure and chemistry of the atmosphere.Geothermometry (heating of the Earth, heat flow, volcanology, and hot springs)Hydrology (ground and surface water, sometimes including glaciology)Physical oceanography Tectonophysics (geological processes in the Earth)Geodynamics (numerical study of the inner Earth)Exploration and engineering geophysicsGeophysical EngineeringGlaciologyPetrophysicsApplied geophysicsMineral PhysicsEngineering geology
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Noun
1. geology that uses physical principles to study properties of the earth
(synonym) geophysical science
(hypernym) geology
(hyponym) morphology, geomorphology

The branch of geology that studies the physics of the Earth, using the physical principles underlying such phenomena as seismic waves, heat flow, gravity, and magnetism to investigate planetary properties.

Synonyms and related words:
Newtonian physics, acoustics, aerophysics, applied physics, astrophysics, basic conductor physics, biophysics, chemical physics, cosmical geology, cryogenics, crystallography, cytophysics, dynamic geology, electron physics, electronics, electrophysics, geodesy, geodetics, geodynamics, geognosy, geographics, geography, geological chemistry, geological engineering, geology, geomorphogeny, geomorphology, geoscopy, geotectonic geology, historical geology, hydrogeology, macrophysics, mathematical physics, mechanics, medicophysics, microphysics, mineralogy, mining geology, natural philosophy, natural science, nuclear physics, optics, paleontological geology, pedology, philosophy, physic, physical chemistry, physical geography, physical geology, physical science, physicochemistry, physicomathematics, physics, physiographic geology, physiography, psychophysics, radiation physics, radionics, soil mechanics, soil science, solar physics, solid-state physics, statics, stereophysics, stratigraphic geology, stratigraphy, theoretical physics, thermodynamics, zoophysics