Aerology

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ɛəˈɹɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/

Definitions

1. The scientific discipline that examines the characteristics and behaviors of the atmosphere complements the investigation of weather patterns and climate conditions
2. A branch of science concerned with analyzing atmospheric characteristics while also exploring weather phenomena and climate variations
3. The scientific field focused on analyzing the properties and dynamics of the air surrounding the Earth

Etymology: "Aerology" is a plain compound, built from "aero-", a combining form from Greek "aēr" meaning air, and "-logy", from Greek "-logia", meaning the study or discussion of something. Put together, the name describes the study of air, and it is a deliberate scientific formation rather than a word that grew slowly through common speech. Because the two parts are so transparent, the word needs little more explanation than its component meanings. The "aero-" element went on to form many other modern terms, such as "aeronautics" and "aerodynamics," while "-logy" has been used across the sciences to name fields of study. Using the two together signals a branch of knowledge focused on the atmosphere as a whole, which is why the word is used alongside terms about weather and climate.