Some people watch the weatherman or woman on the nightly news and dream about how much fun it would be to be up there with the maps and graphs, outlining the forecast in a snazzy outfit, having a little fun and raking in the dough. Others are fascinated by extreme weather events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards and droughts. They watch videos of tornado chasers on YouTube with their heart pounding in their chest. Some extreme weather events do more than get our heart racing. They reveal the sheer magnitude of nature’s power and the fragility of human existence, things we often forget in our humdrum day-to-day lives. We are reminded of the aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, of Super Storm Sandy in 2012 and of the India-Pakistan floods of 2014. Those stories not only give us a glimpse at nature’s power, but made us feel the bitter sting of sympathy, our hearts going out to the victims whose lives and communities were devastated by these tragic events.

It may look easy to forecast the weather on television, or even to follow the track of a dangerous storm. But meteorology is a complex subject with lots of nuances and variables to take into account. It isn’t easy or for the thin-skinned should you botch the five-day forecast.  Luckily, today we have Doppler radar and weather satellites. Still it still isn’t easy. Anyone will tell you that the weatherman or woman on their favorite station often gets it wrong. Even with all that training and modern technology at our disposal, Mother Nature still has her secrets to keep.

There are many more occupations that can be had with a degree in meteorology or atmospheric sciences than your nightly broadcaster (http://www.weatherwizkids.com/career-becoming-meteorologist.htm). You can become a consulting meteorologist, lecturer, professor, a climatologist, a forecaster or a researcher (http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/dra/etrp/become_meteorologist.php). There is even something called a forensic meteorologist. This is a weather expert who gives testimony in court cases. So how do you become a meteorologist? It all begins in high school with advanced math and science classes. Calculus, physics, and chemistry are all integral to understanding our weather and climate.  A solid grasp of computers is also helpful. Some knowledge of earth sciences may be required as well.

Your next step is to get a bachelor’s degree in science (B.S.). Often you can get it in meteorology or atmospheric sciences, though some in the field have undergraduate degrees in engineering, math or physical science. In fact, some of the top schools who offer graduate degrees in meteorology often prefer a candidate who has their B.S. in engineering or math (http://www.infoplease.com/cig/weather/how-do-become-meteorologist.html). If you want to teach, work in management or do research, an advanced degree is essential, either a master’s degree or a PhD. If you think it will be an easy ride to the top, think again. Realize that a degree in meteorology is as challenging as an engineering program.

Yes, you will be challenged. But if weather is your thing, you will also be inspired. As a meteorology student you will get to learn the fascinating inner workings of nature. You will see how the oceans, the atmosphere and other aspects of the physical world work and interact with one another. Meteorology may look easy on television. But behind the scenes it is a demanding career. You should be able to analyze data in an efficient and effective manner. You will also need superb communication skills as you will have to put very technical information into laymen’s terms, so that your viewers, coworkers, clients or students can understand it. For TV broadcasters, presence and presentation are crucial to success. You don’t want to be boring. Otherwise, viewers will change the channel. It isn’t just the delivery of information at this point. It’s a performance. If you want to be a broadcaster, journalism courses may be necessary.  One has to be able to meet deadlines particularly in the face of a serious weather event. On the job, you may have to work nights or weekends, sometimes both. Take note next time you watch the weather forecast. There is more behind that smile and maps than meets the eye. But for those fascinated by the weather, a career in meteorology is indeed fulfilling.

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