How to become a Meteorologist
Meteorology is essentially the study of the Earth's atmospheric conditions and how they relate - or are likely to relate in the future - to that phenomenon which we call the weather. By extension, therefore, a meteorologist is one who observes and studies such conditions and from his or her findings, attempts to co-relate the information in to reliable forecasts and predictions.
The job of the meteorologist is extremely intricate and detailed. They have a variety of information devices at their disposal such as satellites, radar and computerised weather stations in modern times as opposed to yesteryear's basic anemometers and barometers, to name but two, but theirs is still the responsibility to interpret this information correctly and make accurate forecasts of future weather conditions, not just for broadcast on the TV News each night, but for the benefits of shipping, air traffic and a whole host of infinitely more important factors than whether we shall need an umbrella on the way to work tomorrow!
In the longer term, the meteorologist also has to observe and record the changes in prevailing weather conditions. This is a two-fold process. In the first instance, they have to consider what factors may be causing what the media love to call "global warming," as opposed to climate change. This includes factors such as pollution by power stations, greenhouse gases from aerosol cans and emissions from modern transport mediums. On the other side of the coin, they then have to consider how variations in these same weather conditions are affecting the planet in matters such as the ozone layer, tidal flow and rising sea levels and the size and patterns of the polar ice-caps.
Those considering a career in meteorology therefore have to first of all consider what type of person they are. They have to be the person who wonders why something works, rather than appreciating the fact that it does. As an artist may appreciate the beauty of a rainbow, the prospective meteorologist has rather to wonder what causes it. They should be the "who," asking "what, where, when and why?"
Meteorology degrees are often accompanied by degrees in physics, mathematics, or even chemistry. A love of geography is naturally also a distinct advantage. In the computer age, with much of their day to day activities governed by computer software forecasting systems, the prospective candidate should also ensure they have have a better than average level of computer literacy. There are also the social skills to consider, however. As much of the information and theory that a meteorologist will deal with on a daily basis is collected from different parts of the globe, their communication skills and ability to relate to colleagues from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds is a significant factor in their success. They may perhaps consider learning at least the very basics of another popularly spoken language.
Finally, it is adviseable that any prospective meteorologist ensure they have the proverbial "thick skin" - as their wont remains an extremely inexact science and they will frequently find themselves in a "no win" situation in terms of public opinion!
