Meteorology

Meteorology is the study of the weather. It is one of the planetary sciences.

Includes observation, simulation, and prediction of atmospheric phenomena, such as wind, cloud, rain, atomspheric convection, weather fronts, storms, rainbows, halos, and aurorae, the effect of terrain on the weather, planetary weather and weather and climate engineering, unusual phenomena like ball lightning and natural plasma displays, and the use of instruments like radar, satellites, weather balloons and drones to gauge atmospheric conditions. Meteorology deals with short-term atmospheric phenomenon, whereas climatology deals with long-term weather patterns.

Various specialized fields deal with weather patterns in different planetary types; the most notable distinction is between small rocky worlds and large gas giants.