Deposition occurs when natural forces wear away rocks and soil to form landforms such as beaches. Knowing more about erosion and deposition helps us understand landscape formation as well as mitigate natural risks such as landslides and flooding.
Deposition science is also used in industrial coating processes such as physical vapor deposition (PVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD), the latter of which offers precise thickness control on an Angstrom scale.
Geology
Geology studies the formation, evolution and dynamics of Earth as well as its natural mineral and energy resources. It investigates processes that have shaped its history over the last 4500 million years using rock records; geology is an umbrella discipline with numerous fields that focus on specific aspects of its study.
Stratigraphy studies the layering of sedimentary rocks over time by wind, water, ice, or gravity. Erosion investigations examine forces which wear away soil particles and rock that eventually reaccumulate elsewhere through deposition.
Geophysics examines the physical properties of rocks, such as their seismicity, magnetism and electrical characteristics. Geochemistry explores their chemical composition while geochronology looks into their age using methods like radioactive dating or palaeomagnetism. Geology extends beyond just Earth by exploring celestial bodies like moons or Mars for evidence of geologic processes.
Chemistry
Chemistry involves understanding the composition, properties and behavior of matter; including how it changes over time. Nearly everything in the universe can be broken down into chemical elements, and bonding or rearrange them to form new substances and materials is at the heart of chemistry.
Physical chemistry explores atomic scale phenomena such as why some liquids change into gases at higher temperatures. Organic chemistry connects molecules in innovative ways to make all sorts of material products, from drugs and plastics to liquid crystal displays.
Chemical bath deposition, used in manufacturing solar cells and semiconductors, is an example of chemical-based deposition for applying thin layers of material. It involves solution containers, substrate holding fixtures, heating and stirring, particle control over size and morphology as well as deposition on surfaces to form thin coatings – deposition science as a whole encompasses many subcategories.
Atmospheric Science
Deposition in forensic science refers to the transference of trace evidence between surfaces. For instance, sweat or oils from suspect fingers may transfer onto objects at the crime scene, where they can then be used for identification purposes. Coral reefs, peat bogs and other natural phenomena also utilize deposition as part of their formation processes.
Atmospheric chemistry is an area of atmospheric science which studies chemical processes occurring on timescales ranging from seconds and millimetres up to decadal and global scales. Atmospheric chemistry research can have profound impacts on climate forcing, air quality issues, as well as interactions between our biosphere and atmosphere.
Meteorology and climatology are subfields of atmospheric science. Meteorology deals with atmospheric motions such as weather systems and forecasting them, while climatology investigates long-term average atmospheric conditions across regions over an extended time period and their variability.
Climate Science
Most people associate climate with weather; however, climate scientists define it more accurately as long-term trends in Earth’s atmosphere and oceans that impact human life. They study these ecosystems extensively.
Climate science is an intricate multidisciplinary field requiring advanced mathematical and computer programming knowledge in order to solve large data sets. At Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), we have become pioneers in developing innovative predictive modeling approaches designed to help scientists comprehend and predict the effects of climate change, including its impacts on water resources, agriculture, energy use, biodiversity, and more.
Deposition is a key process in the formation of landforms, such as dunes. Sand dunes are created when wind-blown sand accumulates on shorelines. Sand dunes can also form through biological deposition where organic matter builds up over time to contribute to carbon and nutrient cycling cycles. Chemical vapor deposition – used industrially coating processes- transforms gas molecules directly to solid without transitioning through liquid state – something seen naturally such as when frost flakes fall from tree branches or when cirrus clouds form high in the atmosphere.