Acknowledgements --Introduction -- 1. A stagnant atmosphere : the weather services before World War II -- 2. Toward a more dynamic atmosphere : discipline development in the interwar period (1919-1938) -- 3. An expanding atmosphere : the war years (1939-1945) -- 4. Initial atmospheric conditions : scientific goals, civilian manpower, and military funding (1944-1948) -- 5. An international atmosphere : Carl-Gustav Rossby and the Scandinavian connection (1948-1950) -- 6. Creating a realistic atmosphere (1950-1952) -- 7. A changing atmosphere : from developmental to operational numerical weather prediction (1952-1955) -- 8. A new atmosphere -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.