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Careers in Meteorology
What is a Meteorologist?
• AMS: A person with specialized education,
using scientific principles to explain,
understand, observe or forecast the Earth’s
atmospheric phenomena and/or how the
atmosphere affects the Earth and life on the
planet
Is being a Meteorologist a good job?
The 2002 “Jobs Rated Almanac” ranks the
meteorologist 7th out of 250 jobs evaluated
by six criteria:
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environment
income
employment outlook
physical demands
security
stress
Job Requirements and Background
• At least a 4 year degree (Bachelors)
– For more advanced positions, a Masters or
Doctoral degree
• Interdisciplinary:
– Mathematics
– Computer Science
– Physics
– Geography
– Chemistry
Is Meteorology Right for Me?
• Do you like weather?
• Do you enjoy and excel in math, physics,
chemistry and computer science courses?
• For those interested in
forecasting/broadcasting: Are you willing to
work shifts and move multiple times to get
the position you want?
– If yes, then it might be the field for you
Who Employs Meteorologists?
• Federal Government
– National Weather Service
• Military
• Universities
• Broadcast Media
• Private forecast firms
• Consulting companies
How Many Jobs are There?
• In the United States alone over 35,000 jobs
involve the study of the Atmosphere
– Operational Forecaster
– Air Quality Modeler
– Severe Storm Forecaster
– Commodities Trader
– Hurricane Researcher
• And many, many more
Big Name Employers
• The National Weather Service employs
approximately 5,000 Meteorologists
• Another 1,000 work in the media
• Even more though work in the private sector
Private Sector Activities
• Most common jobs are in:
– Weather Forecasting
– Broadcast Meteorology
– General Consulting
– Air Quality
– Computer Programming
Salary Scales in Meteorology
• Private Sector:
– About 80% of entry level jobs pay from
$15,000 - $30,000 annually
– This increases to $25,000 - $50,000
annually by years 3 to 5 of employment
• Government Employees:
– Set by civil service pay scales
Salary Scales in Meteorology
• Television and Media:
– Dependent on many factors, such as:
• Market Size
• Viewership (Ratings)
• Experience
• Longevity in the position
Meteorology Jobs in Media
• To get a radio or TV spot you have to be willing
to start low and work your way up
• An engaging personality and computer skills
are a must
• The first job is often weekends, mornings, or a
fill-in position and is not going to be in a big
city
AMS Certified Broadcast Met.
• Replaced the old Seal of Approval program
• Helps to identify those broadcast
Meteorologists who have the training,
experience and skills to perform well on the
air
• Requires maintenance of skills through
professional development
Professional Organizations
• The American Meteorological Society (AMS) is
the primary scientific body for the field in the
U.S.
• Others include:
– National Weather Association (NWA)
– American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Common Specialties
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Aviation forecasting
Marine forecasting
Transportation forecasting
Fire weather forecasting
Agricultural forecasting
Wind engineering
Forensic meteorology
Common Specialties
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Emergency Response Planning
Atmospheric Chemistry
Atmospheric Physics
Weather Observers
State Climatologists
University Research
Detailed job descriptions
Environment/Science:
• Atmospheric Scientists
Involved in air-pollution control, agriculture, forestry,
transportation by sea and air, and climate trends.
• Paleoclimatologists
Study tree rings, lake and ocean sediment and ice boreholes in an
effort to understand climate variations.
• Atmospheric chemists
Deal with the make-up of the atmosphere and the myriad of
chemicals that are being released into it, man-made as well as
natural emissions from microorganisms, trees and geological
processes.
• Atmospheric physicists
Study the mathematics and theory of issues related to radar, radio
wave and optical propagation, spectroscopy, etc.
Detailed job descriptions
Economic/Social:
• Aviation forecasters
Continuously strive to improve accuracy of forecasts in order to
limit flight delays and aviation accidents due to wind and ice.
• Marine forecasters
Provide information with which commercial and recreational
mariners can make decisions about routes or even whether to
stay in port on a given day. They also monitor the seas for signs of
tsunamis.
• Transportation forecasters
Monitor highway and railway weather conditions.
Municipalities can make more informed decisions regarding
staffing for snow removal and railways can take measures to
guard against wind and snow drift problems.
Detailed job descriptions
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Agricultural forecasters
Give forecasts which are helpful to farmers trying to determine: the best
days to plant, fertilize or harvest; whether or not to take measures to protect
their crops from freezes; efficient irrigation schedules.
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Industrial forecasters
Provide businesses options to protect their goods and services from
disruptions or to plan in advance to fill needs of customers. For
example retailers may decide to order extra product or hire more staff or
electric companies might need to be ready to generate at a higher capacity.
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Commodities forecasters
Supply weather forecasts which can increase a trader's odds of
predicting the profitability of consumer goods. An observant trader
can predict investment windfalls or circumvent catastrophic losses.
Detailed job descriptions
• Wind Engineers
Work with structural engineers to develop buildings and
bridges that will withstand the forces of wind. But that’s
not all. There is also work to be done in determination
of pollution dispersion and efficient building ventilation.
• Forensic meteorologists
Collect and analyze data that can be used in
investigations for insurance claims and criminal trials.
Detailed job descriptions
Safety/Health:
• Fire weather forecasters
Integrate meteorological data with fire hazard predictions
and warnings and also management of existing fires.
• Warning coordination meteorologists
Are an integral part of the emergency response
planning that communities worldwide depend on when
It comes to making decisions on whether to leave or stay
when severe weather threatens. An important part of
this program is the establishment of a communication
system that is effective and reliable so that people will
trust enough to leave when that recommendation is
made. Federal, state and local agencies work together to
notify communities of possible dangers and to organize
timely evacuations.
Coursework for a Meteorologist
• Though there is not a Meteorology degree at USF, many of
the courses that may help you in the field are offered.
– Department of Geography
– Department of Mathematics
– Department of Physics
– Department of Chemistry
– Please note that if you are considering taking these courses, you
should check with schools that offer meteorology programs if these
courses will transfer. Not all of them will (but at the same time I would
recommend taking them to provide you with a good background).
USF Dept. of Geography Courses
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MET 4012C – Meteorology
MET 4002 – Climatology
GEO 2200 – Intro to Physical Geography
GEA 2000 – World Regional Geography
• Possible other useful electives include
coursework in GIS, Natural Hazards, Urban
Planning
USF Dept. of Mathematics Courses
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MAC 2311 — Calculus I
MAC 2312 — Calculus II
MAC 2313 — Calculus III
MAS 3105 — Linear Algebra
MAS 4156 — Vector Calculus
MAP 2302 — Differential Equations
MAP 5345 — Applied Partial Differential
Equations
USF Dept. of Physics Courses
• PHY 2048 – General Physics I (+ Lab)
• PHY 2049 – General Physics II
– Both of these are Calculus based
• PHY 3101 – Modern Physics
• If you are doing a degree at USF in Geography
(and if you are interested in Meteorology) it is
recommended that you complete a minor in
physics and consider these courses .
USF Dept. of Chemistry Courses
• CHM 2045 – General Chemistry I (+ Lab)
• CHM 2046 – General Chemistry II
Make sure your department advisor
knows of your plans
You should seek formal and up-to-date advice
on what courses to take from your official
departmental advisor
Other suggestions
• Show that you are involved in Meteorology outside of your regular
classes. E.g. consider
– A weather related Research Experience for Undergraduate
Program (REU)
– Being involved with the local chapter of the West Central Florida
Chapter of the American Meteorological Society. e.g.
www.wcflams.org
– Look for directed research opportunities.
– Consider internship opportunities, e.g.
• FOX 13 with Andy Johnson.
• National Weather Service (Ruskin) with Daniel Noah and
Charlie Paxton.
• Channel 10. with Bobby Deskins
• Channel 8 with Steve Jerve and Megan Hatton.
Summary
• Meteorology is a multi-disciplinary field,
drawing on many difference sciences
• There are many varied jobs in Meteorology
available for those with the right training
• With motivation and education, Meteorology
can be a challenging and rewarding
occupation