Geoscientists follow paths of exploration and discovery in quest of solutions to some of society's most challenging problems:

• Predicting the behavior of Earth systems and the universe.

• Finding adequate supplies of natural resources, such as ground water, petroleum, and metals.

• Conserving soils and maintaining agricultural productivity.

• Developing natural resources in ways that safeguard the environment.

• Maintaining quality of water supplies.

• Reducing human suffering and property loss from natural hazards, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods, landslides, hurricanes, and tsunamis.

• Determining geological controls on natural environments and habitats and predicting the impact of human activities on them.

• Defining the balance between society's demand for natural resources and the need to sustain healthy ecosystems.

• Understanding global climate patterns.

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