Geological science is extending its research field from resources exploration to environment prediction, from tracing back to looking ahead. Accordingly, the history of evolutionary changes in atmosphere and hydrosphere has become its direct object of study, along with the solid sphere of the Earth. New branches of geological science have emerged as times require, such as paleoceanography, paleolimnology, paleohydrology, paleoatmospheric chemistry, paleometeorology, etc. To meet the demands arisen from the new research field, it is to renew the methods and techniques we used to apply, amd to introduce a quantitative approach with a well defined system of data collection and treatment, with modelling and testing. All this will promota modernization of the geological science as a whole. The paper concludes with several suggestions concerning relevant research activities in China.