sedimentology
sed-uh-men-TOL-uh-jee
Definition
The branch of geology that studies the origin, transport, deposition, and composition of sedimentary materials, such as mud, sand, and pebbles.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'sedimentum' (a settling) and the Greek suffix '-logia' (study of). It entered scientific terminology in the 20th century to describe the systematic study of sediment accumulation.
In the news
The article describes the work of a specialized research lab focused on environmental sedimentology to reconstruct historical changes in the Venice Lagoon's ecosystem. This field allows researchers to analyze core samples to understand how past environmental conditions influenced organism behavior.
Venice Lagoon provides living laboratory for researchers studying climate change
Read the full article ↗Phys.org