The best known applications of this knowledge is in understanding and forecasting the weather. However, weather information and meteorological research also are applied in many other areas, such as air pollution control, fire prevention, agriculture, air and sea transportation, and the study of trends in the earth's climate. Meteorologists who forecast the weather, known professionally as operational or synoptic meteorologists, are the largest group of specialists. Their data come from weather satellites and observers in many parts of the world. Although some forecasters still prepare and analyze weather maps, most data now are plotted and analyzed by computers.
Some meteorologists engage in basic and applied research.
For example, physical meteorologists study the chemical and physical properties of the atmosphere. They do research on the effect of the atmosphere on transmission of light, sound, and radio waves, and study factors affecting formation of clouds, rain, snow, and other weather phenomena. Other meteorologist, known as climatologists, study trends in climate and analyze past records of wind, rainfall, sunshine, and temperature to determine the general pattern of weather that makes up an area' s climate. These studies are used to plan heating and cooling systems, design buildings, and aid in effective land utilization. Jobs in weather stations, most of which operate around the clock 7 days a week, often involve night work and rotating shifts.