This article examines the formation-process of the atmospheric sciences in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) with a particular focus on the 1970’s, when atmospheric research expanded massively on an institutional, methodological and conceptual level. Up until now this episode is just rudimental studied historically or sociologically, especially for the FRG. The formation of the atmospheric sciences will be illustrated by two case studies: the foundation and development since 1968 of the first department of atmospheric chemistry in the Max Planck (...) Society (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, MPG) and the collaborative research program “atmospheric tracegases” initiated in 1970 by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG). (shrink)

This article examines the formation-process of the atmospheric sciences in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) with a particular focus on the 1970’s, when atmospheric research expanded massively on an institutional, methodological and conceptual level. Up until now this episode is just rudimental studied historically or sociologically, especially for the FRG. The formation of the atmospheric sciences will be illustrated by two case studies: the foundation and development since 1968 of the first department of atmospheric chemistry in the Max Planck (...) Society (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, MPG) and the collaborative research program “atmospheric tracegases” initiated in 1970 by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG). (shrink)