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Do you love studying all aspects of the weather and trying to understand and predict when the next atmospheric event will take place? Do you find yourself glued to the Weather Channel instead of the evening news? Are you always able to answer game show trivia questions correctly whenever the subject revolves around epic storms or other disasters caused by nature's wrath? If so, you may want to consider becoming a meteorologist.
If you have a passion for weather-related events throughout history and love exploring the atmospheric patterns that create them, then you might consider a career in meteorology. The job itself is about more than simply standing in front of a camera and offering weekly weather forecasts to area viewers; it involves investigating the entire spectrum of weather-related phenomena as measured from extensive scientific research inside a lab. To learn the specifics of this exciting job, continue reading this guide on becoming a meteorologist -
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National Weather Service Interviews
This video features interviews with several meteorologists working for the National Weather Service. They discuss what inspired them to become ... read moreThis video features interviews with several meteorologists working for the National Weather Service. They discuss what inspired them to become meteorologists, the skills one needs for the job and the type of requirements necessary, both educational and personal. Some of the skills include being well versed in math and science and being skilled with computers. Being a strong communicator and good public speaker is also important because many meteorologists will need to talk to the public, conveying weather warnings and other related information.
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Step 1: What Does a Meteorologist Do?
- There is a general misconception that the only job of a meteorologist is to present the weather forecast on the daily newscasts, but this is not accurate. Meteorologists actually research the very weather-related phenomenon they are forecasting, spending large amounts of time in the laboratory using a variety of tools to both understand weather patterns and make assessments accordingly. Meteorologists typically engage in both atmospheric research and applied meteorology.
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Atmospheric Research
- Meteorologists work closely with scientists in the fields of physics, environmental science, chemistry, mathematics and oceanography. They:
- Study the threat of global warming by collecting and analyzing data related to temperature trends
- Research what causes hurricanes to form and attempt to project their path
- Develop new radar systems that detect tornadoes and other severe storms, which provides better warning for weather-related dangers
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Applied Meteorology
- Meteorologists are also employed by separate corporations or their own company, and are asked to aid in various related projects such as:
- Computer processing of weather-related information
- Providing expert witness information in weather-related court cases
- Providing climate-related information for air conditioning and heating engineers
- Meteorologists also study and predict weather-related patterns as well as take jobs at colleges and universities teaching courses in meteorology or applied science. In these jobs, as well as those mentioned above, a variety of tools are used to study and assess the various information, including:
- Radar
- Satellites
- Instrumented aircraft
- Computers
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Bachelor's Degree
- Students usually major in meteorology or applied science
- Specialized fields such as agricultural meteorology are also offered, so if you wish to pursue such fields you should find a school specializing in that curriculum, while still maintaining a general foundation in atmospheric science
- For those wanting to focus on research, you can major in physics, engineering, chemistry or mathematics
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Graduate or Doctorate Degree
- Those wishing to pursue a career in atmospheric science are encouraged to enroll in a graduate program, and even consider a doctorate degree as well. Although not a requirement, additional schooling beyond an undergraduate degree is important for any aspiring meteorologist because it provides additional professional opportunities and usually more money.
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Step 3: Explore Career Opportunities
- Other than television stations, there are two main sectors that hire meteorologists, the largest being the government and colleges and universities. Additional employment opportunities can be found in various business industries, research organizations and private consulting firms. Meteorologists often are hired by:
- NASA
- National Weather Service
- Department of Defense
- University research labs
- Television stations
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Conclusion
- Although becoming a meteorologist takes years of hard work and study, the end results will allow you to research, analyze and forecast weather in a variety of satisfying settings. In addition, you can aspire to help people avert tragedy during natural disasters by trying to provide ample warning so they are able to take necessary precautions.
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