Introduction to the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

In this Information Age, understanding the world around us through a scientific lens has become more important than ever. People have studied the atmospheric and oceanic circulation using an established process called the Scientific Method. This chapter reviews several examples of the scientific genius of some of the most important figures in the development of modern meteorology and oceanography along with their discoveries. Then the major themes in the development of the sciences of meteorology and oceanography are presented from the Age of DiscoveryAge of Discovery to the modern Information Age. The weather and climate that results from the atmospheric and oceanic circulation have effects on various sectors of economic and social systems that include primary and secondary impacts. The atmospheric and oceanic circulation is a critical component of the climate system that affects, and is affected by conditions within and exchanges of energy, matterMatter, and momentumMomentum between the atmosphereAtmosphere hydrosphereHydrosphere, lithosphere, cryosphereCryosphere, and biosphereBiosphere. There is an important distinction and interplay between the local environmental setting—the siteSite—and the broader environmental features, including the atmospheric and oceanic circulation—the situationSituation. Finally, the goals of the book are presented.