Rain stormMet Office
Early beginnings
The weather has been a key role in humanity, influencing our ability to grow food and communities around the world.
This led to a study and an awareness around the weather, such as the Ancient Egyptians who peformed rain making rituals more than 5000 years ago.
Met Office Cray Super Computer (2020-12-23) by Met OfficeMet Office
From superstition to science
Ancient scholars observed phenomena like cloud formations, that formed the basis of Aristotle's Meteorology (350 BC). The interest and study of weather continued for millenia and is still practised today at weather centres like the Met Office in Exeter.
Satellite Views Powerful Winter Storm Battering Mid-Atlantic and New England (2017-12-08)NASA
Understanding our world
By studying the weather we can predict events like rainfall. This can be as local and small as knowing if you should take an umbrella with you, to supporting international global aid projects, the farming industry and helping pre-empt natural disasters like mudslides.
Space data can be used to predict floods and improve resilienceUnited Nations Climate Change Conference COP26
Continuity is key
By having long standing data sets of recordings for measurements like temperature and pressure, meteorologists are able to plot climate change drawn from data based evidence.
This will be essential in the future years if we are to preserve our planet's fragile ecosystems.
