Meteorology is the scientific study of the atmosphere and weather processes. The field has a long history, with early contributions from Aristotle, Theophrastus, and others. Modern meteorology involves collecting quantitative atmospheric data and using scientific understanding to forecast future weather conditions. Key applications of meteorology include weather forecasting, aviation forecasting, agricultural forecasting, hydrometeorology, and maritime forecasting. The development of weather instruments over time has improved scientists' ability to study and predict the atmosphere and weather.