geo-, ge- +

1. An underground isotherm, or a line drawn on a weather map that connects places with the same temperature.
2. A line connecting points of equal or constant temperatures on the surface of the earth.

The worship of the earth; earth worship.

The relative degree of certainty with which the existence, abundance, and quantity of a given resource can be determined; such as, coal or oil.

Specifically, the dating of archaeological data in association with a geological deposit or formation; such as, the dating of Pleistocene human remains in the context of glacial advances and retreats.

Disasters caused by movements and deformation of the earth's crust.

The study of the features of the floors and margins of the oceans, including descriptions of topography, composition of bottom materials, interaction of sediments and rocks with air and sea water, the effects of movements in the mantle on the sea floor, and action of wave energy in the submarine crust of the earth.

Dynamic actions or events that occur at the earth's surface as a result of the application of natural forces resulting from gravity, temperature changes, freezing and thawing, chemical reactions, seismic shaking, and the agencies of wind and moving water, ice and snow.

Where and when a force exceeds the strength of the earth's material, that material is changed by deformations, translocations, or chemical reactions.

An extensive region that is characterized by a similar geological history, or by particular structural or physiographical features throughout; such as, a basin or a delta.

A mined facility for the disposal of radioactive waste, using waste packages and the natural geological formations as barriers to provide waste isolation.

The deep geological repository idea involves the encapsulation of used nuclear fuel in long-term engineered casks which are placed and sealed within excavated rooms in a geological formation at a determined depth of 500 to 1000 meters below the earth's surface.

It involves the construction of a vault within a stable, low permeability bedrock, using conventional mining techniques. The bedrock and other engineered barriers are supposed to provide ecological safety over an extended time.

The long-term accumulation of a substance; such as, carbon dioxide or radioactive waste, in a natural geologic formation; for example, a sedimentary basin, seabed, or underground cavern: Jack and the geologists were exploring the possibilities of having a geological sequestration in the mountains.

A major demonstration of carbon dioxide injection into a saline formation for sequestration is under way at an offshore gas platform in the North Sea near Norway. Results from this project (and others) suggest that such formations will be reliable, long-term geologic sequestration (storage) sites or carbon dioxide reservoirs.

There are numerous natural carbon dioxide reservoirs throughout the Rocky Mountain states of the United States in geologic "domes" and "traps", suggesting these geological storage formations will be excellent for keeping carbon dioxide captured from industrial facilities.

1. A mineral or aggregate of minerals the presence of which defines the temperature ranges or limits within which the minerals were formed.
2. A thermometer constructed to measure temperatures in boreholes to provide information about the temperature range within which minerals were developed.

A system of measuring the history of the earth by studying the rocks of the earth's crust.

Since new rocks are generally deposited on top of existing material, those lower down are oldest.

The strata of rock are classified according to their age, and a time scale corresponding to this can be constructed.

The main divisions (eras) are the Paleozoid, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic. These are further subdivided into periods and epochs.

An arbitrary chronological arrangement of geological events; usually represented, in the form of a chart, showing the names of various rock layers and indicating the estimated period of each geological unit of geological time.

1. The period of time from the end of the formation of the earth as a separate planet to the beginning of written history, as recorded and illustrated by the succession of rocks.
2. The period of time that extends from the beginning of the world to the present day.
3. An interval of time occupied by the earth's geologic history, extending from about 3.9 billion years ago (corresponding to the age of the oldest known rocks) to the present day.

In other words, the part of the earth's history that is recorded in rock strata.

The geological time scale is classified in intervals distinguished by characteristic geological and biological features; as indicated by the following longest to the shortest durations: eon (one thousand million years), era (divided into several periods), period (unit of geological time during which a system of rocks is formed), and epoch (geologic time that is a subdivision of a period).

1. Referring to the history and structure of the solid portion (rocks, soils, and minerals) of the earth.
2. Descriptive of, or pertaining to, geology or the science of the earth.

A science which deals with the history of the earth and its life; especially, as recorded in rocks.