<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (July 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (July 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> Earth science or geoscience is a widely embraced term for the fields of science related to the planet Earth . It is the branch of science dealing with the physical constitution of the earth and its atmosphere . Earth science is the study of our planet's physical characteristics, from earthquakes to raindrops, and floods to fossils . Earth science can be considered to be a branch of planetary science, but with a much older history . "Earth science" is a broad term that encompasses four main branches of study, each of which is further broken down into more specialized fields . </P> <P> There are both reductionist and holistic approaches to Earth sciences . It is also the study of the Earth and its neighbors in space . Some Earth scientists use their knowledge of the Earth to locate and develop energy and mineral resources . Others study the impact of human activity on Earth's environment, and design methods to protect the planet . Some use their knowledge about Earth processes such as volcanoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes to plan communities that will not expose people to these dangerous events . </P>

The study of the earth and its characteristics is know as