Meteorology: From Myth to Measurement

Avoiding the weather is impossible. Weather forecasting is the one branch of science that nearly everyone uses on a daily basis. Whether one checks the forecast in the morning, afternoon, or night, knowing the atmospheric conditions enables us to prepare for the type of weather we will be facing. Predicting the climate has been practiced since the beginning of time with more or less accuracy. Historical beliefs show numerous examples of weather predicting methods based on observing surrounding elements. Although meteorologists observations aren’t always precise; having little knowledge about what may happen is better than none. “The only thing that never changes about the weather is that it always changes” (Wills 8). However, forecast transitioning is steadily changing from biblical beliefs, philosophical opinions, observations, and evolving technology which helps meteorologists to stay a few more days ahead.

One believed that the weather belonged to God. “Storms were proof of God’s anger and rain was proof of God’s blessings” (Lockhart 11). In the earliest book of the biblical collection, after Job suffers and returns to God, he learns:

Great things doeth God, which we cannot comprehend. For he saith to the snow, fall thou on the earth; likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of His mighty rain. Out of the chamber of the south cometh the storm; and cold out of the north. By the breath of God, ice is given and the breadth of the waters is congealed (11).

Ancient beliefs were if God said it, so it was. Today’s Bible has little weather information; however, the book of Enoch was accepted by early Christians and is extensively quoted in Revelations. In this book of the Bible, “Enoch visits heaven and ...

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...viation depending on it” (Hassan). Without meteorologists in weather stations all times of the day preparing weather forecasts for us, we wouldn’t know what to expect from the weather. Over the past few years that I’ve witnessed natural disasters, the meteorologists had enough time to warn the people in the areas it would most likely affect. With this little information, these humans had enough time to relocate or simply prepare for its disasters. Having this knowledge of the weather has bettered and saved several lives whereas the outcome of death and injured rate would be soaring through the roof. Who isn’t appreciative of weather forecasters? Although we may not give our thanks on a regular basis, we appreciate all the help that we can receive. Meteorologists aren’t 100 percent correct, but the percentage of the time that they are correct benefits a ton!