Weather forecasts are important for safety and economic reasons. This is especially true for people who work in shipping, agriculture, utilities, aviation, and fishing. However, weather information and meteorological research are also used in air pollution control, agriculture, defense, and air and sea transportation. It is also used to study trends in the earth's climate. One example of this kind of trend is global warming.
Some meteorologists work in research.
Climatologists study past records of weather. This includes wind, rainfall, sunshine, and temperatures in specific regions or areas. They try to figure out what changes will occur over a long period of time. Their predictions are used to plan heating and cooling systems, land use, and agricultural production. Physical meteorologists study the chemical and physical properties of the atmosphere.