Which ancient philosopher is considered the founder of meteorology?

Aristotle (384-322 BCE) was an ancient philosopher considered the founder of meteorology. This attribution is due in part to his treatise, a publication in 360 BCE titled ‘Meteorology’. The text discusses what Aristotle believed to have been all the affections common to air and water, and the parts of the earth and its affections. It includes early accounts of water evaporation, earthquakes, and other weather phenomena.

One of the most impressive achievements described in Aristotle's publication is the description of what is known as the hydrologic cycle, also known as the water cycle, it describes the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the earth.

Meteorology is a branch of the atmospheric sciences with a major focus on weather forecasting.

Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. He was a student of Plato (428/427 or 424/423 - 348/347BCE). In addition to meteorology, Aristotle wrote about other subjects including physics, biology, zoology, ethics and linguistics to name a few. His other contribution to the field of philosophy was his provision of a complex synthesis of the philosophies existing prior to him.