Careers in Meteorlogy

Presenter: Charlie Neese
Meteorologist

Observe our atmosphere. . . .catch a glimpse of blue sky, lightning, sun beams, a cloud or two, perhaps stretching downward towards earth, and even a trail of smoke or many colors. Invisible currents. Maybe something more threatening, or completely unfamiliar.  Learn a bit of the science behind weather. .and the technology too. Jump into atmospheric science or applied meteorology.

Thousands of career choices are available in our fast-changing society. Why would you choose atmospheric science or applied meteorology? Do you have a deep curiosity about the world around you? As a meteorologist, you can satisfy that curiosity by investigating the natural forces that shape our weather and climate. You can use your knowledge to warn others when danger is approaching in the form of tornadoes and hurricanes. You can learn about the latest tools of modern technology-computers, radar, satellites-to discover how natural processes and human activities affect our atmosphere. You can be a TV weather forecaster, or perhaps you want to design and launch a new weather satellite, or maybe you want to become a storm chaser.
Join us as Meteorologist Charlie Neese discusses the education, background experiences and future employment opportunities in the high tech science of METEOROLOGY.  Charlie Neese is a member of the National Weather Association & American Meteorological Society, and he has earned the prestigious TV Seal of Approval from both professional organizations.
What is meteorology? It is the science that deals with the phenomena of the atmosphere, especially weather and weather conditions. It includes the studying of different atmospheric factors like temperature, pressure, and humidity or the presence of water vapor.

Lesson Background:

3) What is a High Pressure System?
A high pressure system is a whirling mass of cool, dry air that generally brings fair weather and light winds. When viewed from above, winds spiral out of a high-pressure center in a clockwise rotation in the Northern Hemisphere. These bring sunny skies. A high pressure system is represented as a big, blue H.
H

4) What is a Low Pressure System?
A low pressure system is a whirling mass of warm, moist air that generally brings stormy weather with strong winds. When viewed from above, winds spiral into a low-pressure center in a counterclockwise rotation in the Northern Hemisphere. A low pressure system is represented as a big, red L.
L

5) What is a front?
A front is a boundary between two different air masses, resulting in stormy weather. A front usually is a line of separation between warm and cold air masses.

6) What is a cold front?
A cold front is a boundary between two air masses, one cold and the other warm, moving so that the colder air replaces the warmer air. A cold front is represented as a blue line with the teeth pointing toward the direction on movement.

7) What is a warm front?
A warm front is a boundary between two air masses, one cool and the other warm, moving so that the warmer air replaces the cooler air. A warm front is represented as a red line with half circles pointing toward the direction on movement.

8) What is a stationary front?
A stationary front is a boundary between two air masses that more or less doesn’t move, but some stationary fronts can wobble back and forth for several hundred miles a day. A stationary front is represented as an alternating warm and cold front symbol.

9) What is an occluded front?
An occluded front is a combination of two fronts that form when a cold front catches up and overtakes a warm front. An occluded front is represented as a purple line with teeth and half circles.

10) What is a trough?
A trough on a weather map is an elongated area of relatively low pressure. Troughs bring cloudy and rainy weather. A trough is represented by a hash mark line.

11) What is a weather satellite?
A weather satellite is a type of satellite that is primarily used to monitor the weather and climate of the Earth. Satellites can be either polar orbiting, seeing the same swath of the Earth every 12 hours, or geostationary, hovering over the same spot on Earth by orbiting over the equator while moving at the speed of the Earth's rotation. These meteorological satellites see more than clouds and cloud systems. City lights, fires, effects of pollution, auroras, sand and dust storms, snow cover, ice mapping, boundaries of ocean currents, energy flows, etc., are other types of environmental information collected using weather satellites.

12) What is radar?
Radar is an electronic instrument, which determines the direction and distance of objects that reflect radio energy back to the radar site. It stands for Radio Detection and Ranging. This is what meteorologists use to see rain or snow.

13) What is Doppler Radar?
Doppler Radar detects precipitation intensity, wind direction and speed, and provides estimates of hail size and rainfall amounts. Doppler Radar gives forecasters the capability of providing early detection of severe thunderstorms that may bring strong damaging winds, large hail, heavy rain, and possibly tornadoes. Combined with satellites, radar gives forecasters the ultimate tools to provide accurate forecasts and advanced severe weather warnings.

14) How does Doppler Radar work?
Doppler Radar gets its name from the Doppler Effect. Have you ever listened to a train whistle as it was coming toward you? You probably noticed that the pitch of the whistle changed as the train passed you and moved away. This change in the frequency of sound is called the Doppler Effect. Doppler Radar measures the changes in the frequency of the signal it receives to determine the wind.

15) What is NEXRAD Radar?
The National Weather Service has installed a new type of Doppler Radar called NEXRAD Radar. NEXRAD stands for Next Generation Radar. This radar produces many different views of storms and rain that allows meteorologists to determine if a storm could be severe.

LESSON: Choosing a Career in Meteorology:

An interest in physical sciences and mathematics are the essential elements for a career in meteorology. The first step for a student in considering a career in meteorology or atmospheric sciences is to complete high school physical science courses and mathematics.
Courses in earth sciences can also provide a valuable insight into the atmospheric environment. It is also essential to be familiar with the use of computers and their application to problem-solving, writing and communication. Students should also develop basic skills in written and spoken English to communicate scientific knowledge.
Students should continue their studies in physical sciences and mathematics, adding courses in other sciences. Introductory and advanced courses in geography, oceanography, hydrology and chemistry are all subjects for this career.
The most direct path to a career in meteorology is an undergraduate degree in meteorology or atmospheric sciences. A number of universities in the United States offer such programs with options varying from broad-based degrees to those with a focused specialty in agricultural or forest meteorology, for example.
Many meteorologists have degrees in physics, chemistry, mathematics, and other fields. The broader term “atmospheric science” is used to describe the combination of meteorology and other branches of physical science that are involved in studying the atmosphere.

What meteorologists do:
Meteorologists do many things.  They work in atmospheric research; teaching;
weather forecasting; develop new radar systems that detects severe storms,
hurricanes, and tornadoes; explore warming and cooling trends in the past, present, and projected into the future; research and other kinds of applied meteorology.

Where do meteorologists work?

The largest employer of meteorologists in this country is the United States government. Many work for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which includes the National Weather Service. Some are on active duty with the military services, primarily the Air Force and the Navy, while others are civilian employees of the Department of Defense. Other federal agencies such as
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Department
of Energy, and the Department of Agriculture also employ meteorologists. Other major employers include universities and private industry. University meteorologists teach and work in atmospheric research programs. Television
stations employ professional meteorologists to present weather information to viewers.
While a deep fascination with weather unites weather workers, the range of occupations in the world of professional meteorology is diverse. The broad realm of weather professions can be divided into five categories: television meteorologists, government meteorologists, research meteorologists, teaching meteorologists and consulting meteorologists.

Television Meteorologists

Perhaps the most familiar of the professional meteorologists are those who give weather reports on television. These people can even become household names. The most important characteristic of a television meteorologist is his or her ability to tell a story. A good TV weatherperson will not simply lay out the facts for the viewers, but will organize them into story form with a beginning, middle and end.

Government Meteorologists

Some meteorologists are better known than others. Government meteorologists are an important group that rarely step into the public spotlight. These are the people who issue official forecasts for the entire country, as well as decide if and when to issue severe weather watches and warnings. Many government meteorologists work at the National Weather Service (NWS) or the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Both are administered by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It is important to note that many lives have been saved because of our country's dedicated team of government meteorologists.

Research Meteorologists

The scientific community has a considerable amount of data revealing the ways in which the world and atmosphere work, but even more vast is how much we have yet to learn. The job of the research meteorologist is to answer unsolved questions about the atmosphere, and then disseminate that information through journals and presentations. Research meteorologists, or atmospheric scientists, work at universities and laboratories all over the world. One of the most important characteristics of weather scientists' work environment is collaboration. As in many situations in life, more can be learned and accomplished when scientists work together by sharing information, resources, and techniques.

Teachers

The field of education draws those who have a desire to inspire and educate future scientists.  Teaching of meteorology occurs at the university and K-12 grade levels, but there are also many professional development trainings for professional meteorologists, including national weather forecasters. Experienced professionals must keep up to date on new discoveries and many accomplish this by attending training workshops to learn the latest theories about weather and climate.  Many people who help train professional meteorologists have master’s degrees in meteorology or a related field; those who teach at the university level usually have a PhD.  Teachers in high school and middle school might have an education degree with an emphasis in science, or might have an advanced degree as well.

Consulting Meteorologists

Some meteorologists serve as consultants; many run their own businesses. Think about how weather touches your life.  Does it influence how you dress or prepare for an outdoor activity?  How often does bad weather close a school?  Do you plan your vacations around weather conditions?  Businesses, as well as people, are influenced by weather.  If you own a ski resort you want to know if the coming winter will have above or below average snowfall. The importance of weather is indisputable when discussing its relationship to agriculture.  Plants need water. A severe lack of precipitation can lead to a drought, which results in lower crop yields.  It is not just good weather that farmers look for, but good weather at the right time.  Corn needs lots of rain, but heavy rains at harvest can turn the fields to mud and cease harvesting leaving the corn rotting in the fields.  Consulting meteorologists help large and small business owners in their business planning.

Possible Questions to ask Charlie Neese:

1) What is your most memorable weather moment?
2)  Why did you choose weather as a career?
3)  What is your favorite season and why?

Website Questions/Comments
Contact Virtual School Webmaster, Michael Majett
Email: michael.majett@Vanderbilt.edu
Phone: (615) 343-1018         IP:129.59.139.23

Back to top