Meteorology is the study of the atmosphere and weather phenomena. Aristotle wrote one of the earliest works on meteorology in 340 BC called "Meteorologica" which described the science of earth's geology, elements, hydrology, seas, wind and weather. Key early weather instruments included the water thermometer in the 1500s, the mercury barometer invented in 1643, and the anemometer first described in 1450 which measures wind speed and pressure. Modern meteorology aims to understand atmospheric dynamics and forecast weather events like hurricanes and thunderstorms.