What is the study of the origin and arrangement of Earth's broad structural features called?

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The study of the origin and arrangement of Earth's broad structural features is known as tectonics. Tectonics focuses on the processes that shape the Earth's crust, including the movement and interaction of tectonic plates. This includes the development of mountains, earthquakes, and the creation of various geological structures. Tectonic activities are crucial in understanding how these large-scale features form and evolve over geological time.

In contrast, geology is a broader field that encompasses various aspects of Earth's materials, processes, and history, not just the structural features. Geomorphology specifically studies landforms and the processes that shape them, but it does not cover the larger structural frameworks of Earth. Paleontology focuses on the study of fossils and ancient life forms, making it unrelated to the structural features of the Earth's crust. Therefore, tectonics is the most accurate term for the study of Earth's broad structural features.

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