Steps to becoming a Meteorologist
Nearly everyone is an amateur meteorologist. Anytime someone looks at the clouds and predicts rain or snow, they stepping into the realm of meteorology. Only a few people are so intrigued by the weather to master the in depth study to become a true meteorologist.
Most meteorologist will not join the rest of us in complaining about the weather unless it becomes dull and unintersting. When a storm is brewing, their blood starts to run a little faster and adrenaline starts to pump. Most meteorologist do not just study the weather, they live for it. To reach this level in the weather field, a person has to spend their college career preparing.
Many major universities offer a degree track in meteorology. With meteorology as your declared major, your courses will guide you toward your chosen field of work. To prepare for this degree, you will want to load up on all of the science and math courses available during high school. While these programs do not usually have entrance requirements beyond those of the university itself, the courses you must take require a head start by doing well in high school.
During the four years of study for your bachelors degree, you will need to study some physics, higher math, earth sciences, and possibly an engineering course or two. Of course, it is to be expected that at some point your class load will include the study of weather and weather patterns. You will learn the history of how weather predicting evolved.
The materials will bring out the nuances in cloud types and storm systems. All of the major and minor wind patterns and sea currents will make the list of those things that must be learned and understood. Even an understanding of solar wind and events will be studied. Tide patterns and the influence of the moon on earth's oceans and winds will be in the training.
Plan on the fact that to study weather, you will have to go outside and even on field trips to study it. Books alone will not provide you with the experience needed to do weather forecasting. You will be subjected to satellite images of cloud patterns and infrared images of the ocean temperatures. These all have a part in how weather develops on planet earth.
After finishing your undergraduate degree, you will have been trained in atmospheric science. To get some of the better jobs in the field, you may have to continue your educational climb. If you plan to do weather forecasting on television or radio, you will also need to throw in some courses regarding the media. An internship at a local station will not hurt your resume.
You should try to invest your summers working in places with unusual weather like tornado alley or along the coast during hurricane season. These experiences will give you great practical insight to bolster your theoretic studies.
