Abstract: Based on the survey of the domestic organizations in atmospheric science and the related areas, an overview of China atmospheric science development situation is made, with the emphases on human resources, scientific research projects and science papers. The study shows that since 1990s the atmospheric science in China has continually developed and the merging of the atmospheric science and other disciplines has enhanced. The total number of personnel is big and the employees are broadly distributed. But the high level talented persons are obviously insufficient. A comparison study on atmospheric science development situation, national and international research hot topics and the domestic demand is also made with the bibliometric analysis. Four judgment criteria are put forward and the priority areas in atmospheric science are investigated from four different aspects. The preliminary study indicates that whether the basic research or the applied research is emphasized, the weather modification and the atmospheric physics should be the priority areas. When scientific hot topics and the scientific frontiers are focused, climate system and global change, weather dynamics and weather forecast are the priority domains. Synthesized sounding system, field experiment and atmospheric chemistry are the priority areas when development demand and the scientific frontiers are stressed.