Career In Meteorology

What is the difference between Atomopheric Physics and Meteorology?

Specifically in relation to a graduate degree. Thanks! Haha, typed way to fast....Atmospheric Physics is what I meant to say.

Public Comments

1. I have never heard of atomopheric physics. There is atomic physics, dealing with the study of the atom. And nuclear physics, dealing with the physics of the nucleus. Particle physics deals with the physics of subatomic particles, and chemistry deals with the interaction of molecules and units larger than atoms. But there is no branch called atomopheric physics that I know of. Meterology is the study of weather patterns - has nothing to do with atomic physics.
2. Perhaps atmospheric physics is a specific branch of physics, involving heat exchange, fluid motion, water trasformations, and electrical energy, in the medium of air. Meteorology uses these to get a macro picture of the weather. Physical phenomena are not 100% understood, and physicists are improving on the theories all the time. The physicist would study the mechanisms in depth to get better understanding, to do this theory improvement, while the meteorologist would probably use the physicist's latest, most well-established results to help predict macro (large-scale) weather patterns. Like the previous responder, I don't know if that is a specific field or not.