Editing Atmospheric science (section)

{{Short description|Study of the atmosphere, its processes, and its interactions with other systems}}
{{Geophysics|all}}
{{Atmospheric sciences}}
{{Weather}}
'''Atmospheric science''' is the study of the [[Atmosphere of Earth|Earth's atmosphere]] and its various inner-working physical processes. [[Meteorology]] includes [[atmospheric chemistry]] and [[atmospheric physics]] with a major focus on [[weather forecasting]]. [[Climatology]] is the study of atmospheric conditions over timescales longer than those of [[weather|weather]], focusing on average climate conditions and their [[climate variability and change|variability over time]]. [[Aeronomy]] is the study of the upper layers of the atmosphere, where [[dissociation (chemistry)|dissociation]] and [[ionization]] are important. Atmospheric science has been extended to the field of [[planetary science]] and the study of the atmospheres of the [[planet]]s and [[natural satellite]]s of the [[Solar System]].

Experimental instruments used in atmospheric science include [[satellite]]s, [[rocketsonde]]s, [[radiosonde]]s, [[weather balloon]]s, [[radar]]s, and [[laser]]s.

The term '''aerology''' (from [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] ἀήρ, ''aēr'', "[[air]]"; and -λογία, ''[[-logy|-logia]]'') is sometimes used as an alternative term for the study of Earth's atmosphere;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/3176?redirectedFrom=aerology|title=Aerology|website=OED Online|publisher=Oxford University Press|access-date=December 4, 2019}}</ref> in other definitions, aerology is restricted to the [[free atmosphere]], the region above the [[planetary boundary layer]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Aerology|title=Aerology - AMS Glossary|website=glossary.ametsoc.org|access-date=2019-09-08}}</ref>

Early pioneers in the field include [[Léon Teisserenc de Bort]] and [[Richard Assmann]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=OlckxY7BA_0C&pg=PA17 Ultraviolet radiation in the solar system] By Manuel Vázquez, Arnold Hanslmeier</ref>