Monthly Weather Review

Monthly Weather Review. It is a premier peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing original research on the analysis and prediction of observed atmospheric circulations and physics, including technique development, data assimilation, model validation, and relevant case studies. Established in the early 1870s, it is one of the oldest continuously published meteorological journals in the world and is a flagship publication of the American Meteorological Society. The journal has played a foundational role in documenting and advancing the field of synoptic meteorology and dynamic meteorology, featuring seminal work by many of the discipline's most influential figures.

History and publication

The journal was first published in 1872 by the United States Army Signal Corps, under the leadership of Albert J. Myer, who served as the first editor. Its initial mission was to collect and disseminate meteorological observations for practical use by the United States Department of War and the public. Following the transfer of the national weather service to the United States Department of Agriculture, publication was managed by the Weather Bureau, with notable early contributions from figures like Cleveland Abbe. In 1914, publication was assumed by the American Meteorological Society, which has overseen it since, marking a shift toward a more research-oriented focus. Key historical milestones include publishing early work on air mass analysis by the Bergen School of Meteorology and foundational papers on numerical weather prediction by Jule Charney and the team at the Institute for Advanced Study.

Content and scope

The journal's scope encompasses all aspects of weather analysis and forecasting, with a strong emphasis on synoptic-dynamic meteorology, mesoscale meteorology, and tropical meteorology. It regularly features research on extratropical cyclones, convective storms, hurricanes, and monsoons, utilizing tools from remote sensing and radar meteorology. A significant portion of content is dedicated to numerical weather prediction, including studies on data assimilation methods like the Ensemble Kalman filter, model physics parameterizations, and forecast verification techniques. The journal also publishes articles on climate dynamics relevant to weather timescales, atmospheric rivers, and the use of reanalysis datasets such as those from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction.

Impact and recognition

It is consistently ranked among the top journals in the field of atmospheric sciences by metrics such as the Impact factor and is highly cited in both operational and academic literature. Seminal papers published within its pages have shaped modern meteorology, including foundational theories on baroclinic instability, the conceptual model of the mid-latitude cyclone, and advancements in ensemble forecasting. The journal's archives serve as an invaluable historical record of the evolution of forecasting techniques, from the hand-drawn analyses of the Weather Bureau to contemporary studies using the Weather Research and Forecasting model. Its influence extends into operational centers worldwide, including the National Weather Service, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, and the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Editors and contributors

The editorial board has included many luminaries of meteorology. Early editors included Albert J. Myer and Cleveland Abbe, while later influential editors-in-chief have featured scientists like Frederick Sanders and Lance F. Bosart. Notable contributing authors over the decades span pioneers such as Vilhelm Bjerknes and Carl-Gustaf Rossby to contemporary leaders like Kerry Emanuel and Brian Mapes. The review process is managed by a large panel of associate editors from major institutions like the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Oklahoma, ensuring rigorous peer review across its subdisciplines.

Indexing and abstracting

The journal is comprehensively indexed in all major scientific databases, including the Science Citation Index, Scopus, and the Meteorological & Geoastrophysical Abstracts. It is also covered by services from CrossRef and Clarivate Analytics, and its articles are assigned Digital object identifiers for permanent citation. Full-text archives are available through platforms like JSTOR for historical issues and the American Meteorological Society's own portal for contemporary volumes, ensuring wide accessibility for researchers at institutions such as the University of Cambridge and the California Institute of Technology.

Category:American Meteorological Society Category:Meteorology journals Category:Monthly journals Category:English-language journals Category:Publications established in 1872