地学e-Science被认为是继理论分析、实验观察和模拟计算之后的地学科研方法，将促进传统地学科研模式的变革，提升地学研究的效率和水平。由于地学e-Science的研究刚刚起步，国内外学者对其本质、内容、技术架构和未来发展，还缺乏一个统一、清晰的认识。认为地学e-Science的实质就是支撑地学研究的信息化环境及其在此基础上开展的各类地学科研活动，其总体架构包括信息化基础设施、地学资源、功能服务和科研应用4个层次。基于地学e-Science的研究可以实现地学科研模式的4个转变。实践表明地学e-Science原型系统：东北亚联合科学考察与合作研究平台通过信息化技术和数字化资源改变了传统科学考察的模式，极大促进了中国、俄罗斯、蒙古3国科学家联合科学考察的效率。

e-Geoscience (electonic Geo-science) is thought to be the future research mode of Earth science after theory analysis, experiment observation and simulation computing. It can promote the innovation of traditional research mode of Earth science and improve the efficiency of Earth science research. However, as e-Geoscience is the newborn thing, there is no uniform and clear understanding about the essence, characteristics and development trend of e-Geoscience. Based on analysis of current research and authors′ practice, this paper puts forward the definition, connotation and technical framework of e-Geoscience in detail for the first time. e-Geoscience is the electronic environment for supporting Earth science research and all research activities on it. Its technical framework should contain four layers, i.e. information infrastructure, geo-resources, function services and application tools layer from bottom to top. The next generation information infrastructure, such as super speed internet, supercomputing clusters, is the basic of e-Geoscience and geo-resources sharing is the core, while cooperative research is its goal. Then, the research mode based on e-Geoscience is analyzed that has four obvious changes compared to traditional research mode. Finally, the authors design and develop the prototype application system of e-Geoscience, North Eastern Joint Scientific Exploration and Cooperative Research Platform. This platform can provide not only geo-data, bibliographies and models sharing, but also a series of tools for scientific exploration, such as exploration area virtual walkthrough, exploration routes and points pre-Selection on web GIS, field collection system based on PDA and so on. The practice proves that it can extremely save cost and improve the efficiency of across countries, interdisciplinary scientific exploration. 