Career Prospects
Meteorologists are scientists and professionals who study and predict atmospheric and environmental conditions.
Meteorology is concerned with the physical, dynamical and chemical state of the Earth’s atmosphere and also the interactions between the atmosphere and the Earth’s surface.
Meteorologists collect and study data from the atmosphere and oceans to make weather forecasts and carry out research and their role is during times of impending severe weather events.
Many rewarding career and challenging opportunities are available for both pure and applied meteorologists. Below are possible career paths for graduates of meteorology.
1 Armed forces :A country’s military operations such as troop movements, airplane flights, missile launches, and ship movements rely on accurate weather information. Hence, here the role of a meteorologist becomes crucial. Space application centers also recruit meteorologists as the launching of satellite also depends on weather conditions.
2 Aviation meteorologists : An aviation meteorologist analyze weather data and prepares weather reports to airline operations, flight dispatchers, pilots and other concerned personnel in flight operations.
3 Broadcast meteorologist : A broadcast meteorologist gives a weather forecast to viewers through the television, radio or internet, using maps and charts to explain their predictions. They may work with a weather team to gather data to use in their meteorology reports. Broadcast meteorologists also respond to severe weather events, informing the public about what are occurring in their area.
4 Data scientists :Meteorologists can work as data scientists that designs data modeling processes to build predictive models and algorithms and conduct analysis. Using their data, they may create presentations and reports for their stakeholders. Data scientists may also find actionable results through correlating similar data.
5 Academia : Meteorologists can work as instructors and researchers at colleges and universities and they often collect data for academic research programs. This area requires higher qualifications.
6 Forensic services : Whenever weather conditions have an impact on legal cases, forensic meteorologists are often called to reconstruct weather conditions which were occurring at the time of the event in question.
The forensic meteorologist retrieves and analyzes archived weather record information (surface observations, radar, satellite, river information, etc.) and reconstructs the weather conditions for the location in question.
Questions such as when did the highest hurricane winds at a particular building occur, was sun in the eyes of the driver or was it cloudy at the time of the accident, or was lightning present when the house caught fire are just a few examples of the types of questions forensic meteorologists answer for their clients.
At times, forensic meteorologists are called to testify as expert witnesses in court cases that involve the weather.
Meteorologists also play major roles in industries that heavily rely on atmospheric information which include:
Meteorology
- Weather analyst for industry, commerce, airlines, government, alternative energy companies
- Military weather officer
- Renewable energy facility sitting and forecasting
- Private weather prediction firms
- Graduate school => Research
Climate
- Analyst for environmental impact studies
- Climate Positions in State and Local Governments (many have sustainability positions, climate positions)
- Climate/weather derivatives: taking seasonal prediction information and using it for business
- Reinsurance industry (risk management for natural disasters)
- Climate observations/monitoring - jobs with national and international agencies
- Alternative energy companies (e.g., wind power, solar power analysis)
- Graduate school => Research
Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Quality
- Air Quality Forecasting and Monitoring for regional, state and federal governments (e.g. Department of Ecology Air Quality Program)
- Air Quality Consulting
- Environmental Consulting
- Analytical instrumentation, sales, marketing, and R&D; there are small businesses that cater for air quality monitoring, but also opportunities at larger companies that are selling tools for environmental monitoring.
- Graduate school => Research
Data Science : As data scientist in weather, climate, and air quality in the private and government sectors.
Job Titles : It should be noted that many positions for which meteorologists are hired do not contain “meteorologist” in the job title.
Instead, one may find titles such as business continuity analyst, commodity trader, crop analyst, customer success scientist, data scientist, energy analyst, flight dispatcher, insurance analyst, manufacturing coordinator, quantitative researcher, supply chain analyst, transportation manager, and others.