1.
geology
The scientific study of the earth's physical structure, rocks, minerals, and the processes that shape the land over time.
地質学を専攻して火山を研究したい。
I want to major in geology and study volcanoes.
地質学の調査で、この地域には活断層があることが分かった。
A geological survey revealed that there is an active fault in this area.
地震が頻発する日本では、地質学の知識が建築や都市計画にも活かされている。
In earthquake-prone Japan, geological knowledge is also applied to architecture and urban planning.
A compound of 地質 (geological composition) and 学 (study, discipline). Particularly relevant in Japan, which sits on the junction of four tectonic plates and has numerous active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 地質学者: geologist
- 地質学の教授: geology professor
- 地質学的調査: geological survey
- 応用地質学: applied geology
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 地学: earth science — a broader field that includes geology, meteorology, and oceanography
- 鉱物学: mineralogy — the study of minerals specifically
- 地理学: geography — studies spatial relationships between people and environments, overlaps with geology in physical geography