What are the basic differences between the disciplines of physical and historical geology?

Geology as a science is focused on the study of the structures and functions of the Earth's processes, both in the past and at the present. In here we can make a rough division to physical and historical geology.

The physical geology is concerned with the study of the processes at the present, such as the volcanoes, earthquakes, rock formation, pollution issues etc.

The historical geology, on the other hand, is focused on studying the preserved evidence of the geological processes in the past.