'atmoclastic' originates from Greek elements: 'ἀτμός' (atmos) meaning 'vapor, steam, air' and 'κλαστός' (klastós) meaning 'broken'; formed in modern English by combining the prefix 'atmo-' with the suffix '-clastic' (from Greek via scientific coinage).

'atmoclastic' was coined in modern scientific/technical usage (modeled on compounds such as 'cataclastic' and other '-clastic' formations). The formation traces from Greek roots through New Latin/modern scientific coinage into English as a compound adjective.

Initially derived from roots meaning 'broken by or in relation to air/vapor,' it has come to be used (rarely) to denote phenomena that break up or violently disrupt an atmosphere or atmospheric layer; by extension it can be used figuratively for extreme disruption.