# Meteorologist

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{{Short description|Scientist specialising in meteorology}}
{{Infobox occupation
| name               = Meteorologist
| synonyms           = Weather forecaster
| pronounce          = 
| image              = Project Vortex- filming a potentially tornadogenic storm.jpg
| imagesize          =
| alt                =
| caption            = Meteorologist studying tornadoes during [VORTEX projects](/source/VORTEX_projects)
| official_names     = 
| type               = 
| activity_sector    = [Meteorology](/source/Meteorology)
| competencies       = 
| formation          = Minimum B.Sc. in meteorology
| employment_field   = Research, teaching and operational
| related_occupation = [Climatologist](/source/Climatologist)
}}
A '''meteorologist''' is a scientist who studies and works in the field of [meteorology](/source/meteorology) aiming to understand or predict Earth's [atmospheric phenomena](/source/atmosphere_of_Earth) including the [weather](/source/weather).<ref>{{cite book|first1=Todd S.|last1=Glickman|location=Cambridge, Massachusetts|date=June 2009|url=http://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Meteorologist |series=Meteorology Glossary |title=Meteorologist|format=electronic|edition=2nd|publisher=[American Meteorological Society](/source/American_Meteorological_Society)|access-date=November 12, 2019}}</ref> Those who study meteorological phenomena are meteorologists in research, while those using mathematical models and knowledge to prepare daily weather forecasts are called ''weather forecasters'' or ''operational meteorologists''.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Todd S.|last1=Glickman|location=Cambridge, Massachusetts|date=June 2009|url=http://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Weather_forecaster|series=Meteorology Glossary |title=Weather forecaster|format=electronic|edition=2nd|publisher=[American Meteorological Society](/source/American_Meteorological_Society)|access-date=November 12, 2019}}</ref>

Meteorologists work in [government agencies](/source/Government_agency), private consulting and [research](/source/research) services, industrial enterprises, utilities, radio and [television stations](/source/television_stations), and in [education](/source/education). They are not to be confused with [weather presenter](/source/weather_presenter)s, who present the weather forecast in the media and range in training from journalists having just minimal training in meteorology to full-fledged meteorologists.

==Description==
Meteorologists study the Earth's atmosphere and its interactions with the Earth's surface, the oceans and the [biosphere](/source/biosphere). Their knowledge of applied [mathematics](/source/mathematics) and [physics](/source/physics) allows them to understand the full range of atmospheric phenomena, from [snowflake](/source/snowflake) formation to the Earth's general [climate](/source/climate).<ref name=UQAM>{{cite web|language=en|url=https://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/job-descriptions/276127-meteorologist-job-description|title=Meteorologist: Job Description|year=2020|website= targetjobs.co.uk|access-date=November 9, 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Norman OK meteorologist.png|thumb|Operational meteorologist at the US [Storm Prediction Center](/source/Storm_Prediction_Center), 2006]]
Research meteorologists are specialized in areas like:<ref name=UQAM/>

* [Climatology](/source/Climatology) to estimate the various components of the climate and their variability to determine, for example, the wind potential of a given region or [global warming](/source/global_warming).
* [Air quality](/source/Air_quality) where they are interested in the phenomena of transport, transformation and dispersion of atmospheric pollutants and may be called upon to design scenarios for the reduction of polluting emissions.
* [Atmospheric convection](/source/Atmospheric_convection) to refine knowledge of the structure and forces involved in [tropical cyclone](/source/tropical_cyclone)s, [thunderstorm](/source/thunderstorm)s and mid-latitude storms;
* The modeling of the atmosphere and the development of [numerical weather prediction](/source/numerical_weather_prediction).

Operational meteorologists, also known as forecasters:<ref name=UQAM/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/careers/meteorology|title=Careers in Meteorology|author=National Weather Service|date=2019|editor=NOAA|access-date=November 9, 2019}}</ref> 
* Collect weather data in some countries, but it is mostly done by technicians elsewhere.
* Analyze data and numerical weather prediction model outputs to prepare daily weather forecasts.
* Provide weather advice and guidance to private or governmental users.
* Collaborate with the researchers for integrating science and technology into the forecast process, in particular for indices and model outputs, for weather-dependent users such as [farming](/source/Agricultural_meteorology), [forestry](/source/Forest_fire_weather_index), [aviation](/source/Aviation_meteorology), [maritime shipping and fisheries](/source/Marine_weather_forecasting), etc. 

Meteorologists can also be consultants for private firms in studies for projects involving [weather phenomena](/source/weather_phenomena) such as [windfarm](/source/windfarm)s, tornado protection, etc. They finally can be [weather presenter](/source/weather_presenter)s in the media (radio, TV, internet).

==Training==
[[File:PSM V45 D348 Forecasters at work in washington.jpg|thumb|In 1894, a group of US [Weather Bureau](/source/National_Weather_Service) forecasters at work]]
To become a meteorologist, a person must take at least one undergraduate university degree in meteorology.<ref name=UQAM/> For researchers, this training continues with higher education, while for forecasters, each country has its own way of training.<ref name=UQAM/> For example, the [Meteorological Service of Canada](/source/Meteorological_Service_of_Canada) and UK [Met Office](/source/Met_Office) have their own training course after the university, while [Météo-France](/source/M%C3%A9t%C3%A9o-France) takes charge of all the training once the person has passed the entrance examination at the National School of Meteorology after high school.<ref>{{cite web |language=fr|url= http://www.enm.meteo.fr/content/admission-concours-0 |title= Admission et concours|year=2016|publisher=[Météo-France](/source/M%C3%A9t%C3%A9o-France) |access-date=November 9, 2019 |quote= Ce concours peut se passer après le lycée, pour le grade de technicien ou après une licence ou des classes préparatoires pour devenir ingénieur. Le candidat qui a réussi le concours peut même être payé pendant ses études s'il travaille à terme pour Météo-France pendant 10 ans. Il a le statut de fonctionnaire.}}</ref> In United States, forecasters are hired by the [National Weather Service](/source/National_Weather_Service) or private firms after university, and receive on-the-job training, while researchers are hired according to their expertise.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/jetstream/careers |title=Careers in the National Weather Service|work=NWS JetStream|publisher=NOAA|date=2019|access-date=November 9, 2019}}</ref>

In some countries, such as in United States, there is a third way where a graduate in meteorology and communication at the college or university level can be hired as media meteorologists. They are to be distinguished from [weather presenter](/source/weather_presenter)s who have only a communication degree.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/media/bro/outreach/pdf/CareerOpportunitiesMeteorology.pdf|title=Career Opportunities in Meteorology|publisher=National Weather Service|access-date=May 29, 2023}}</ref>

==Some notable meteorologists==
* [Francis Beaufort](/source/Francis_Beaufort), inventor of the [wind scale](/source/Beaufort_scale) that bears his name.<ref>{{cite book|language=fr|first1=Reding|last1=Raymond|title=Beaufort: l'amiral du vent: une vie de Sir Francis Beaufort (1774–1857)|year=2017 |publisher=Le Croît vif |isbn=9782361995591|oclc=1013596077}}</ref>
* [Vilhelm Bjerknes](/source/Vilhelm_Bjerknes), founder of modern meteorology who created the [Bergen School of Meteorology](/source/Bergen_School_of_Meteorology), where researchers defined the [frontal theory](/source/Weather_front) and [cyclogenesis](/source/cyclogenesis) of mid-latitudes storms.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Friedman|last1=Robert Marc|title=Appropriating the weather : Vilhelm Bjerknes and the construction of a modern meteorology|publisher=Cornell University Press|date=1993|isbn=9780801481604|oclc=30264429|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/appropriatingwea0000frie}}</ref>
* [Jacob Bjerknes](/source/Jacob_Bjerknes), son of the former, who attended the Norwegian school and who studied the [El Niño](/source/El_Ni%C3%B1o) phenomenon. He linked the latter to the Southern Oscillation.<ref>[http://library.thinkquest.org/20901/overview_3.htm ''Jacob Bjerknes – the Synthesizer''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415235708/http://library.thinkquest.org/20901/overview_3.htm |date=15 April 2011 }} (University of Washington)</ref><ref>[http://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Jacob_Bjerknes/utdypning ''Jacob Bjerknes''] (Norsk biografisk leksikon)</ref>
* [Daniel Draper](/source/Daniel_Draper_(meteorologist)), inventor of a number of important weather measurement devices including a self-recording wind direction and velocity instruments, self-recording dry and wet bulb thermometers, a hygrograph, a self-recording rain gauge, a sun thermometer, and a weighing mercurial barograph.<ref>[http://waywiser.fas.harvard.edu/people/6997/daniel-draper;jsessionid=26F71DE5F0DF92D336F193CE89CCDC56 Daniel Draper], The Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, [University of Harvard](/source/University_of_Harvard)</ref>
* [George Hadley](/source/George_Hadley), first to introduce the effect of the rotation of the Earth in the explanation of the trade winds and atmospheric circulation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Who was George Hadley? – Famous Geographers |url=https://thegeoroom.com/who-was-george-hadley-hadley-cells/#:~:text=Hadley%20focused%20on%20deducing%20patterns%20in%20temperature%20and%20pressure%20patterns%20and%20discovered%20a%20few%20general%20trends |website=The Geo Room | date=4 June 2023 |access-date=15 November 2023}}</ref>
* [Anna Mani](/source/Anna_Mani), Indian physicist and meteorologist who made contributions to the field of meteorological instrumentation, conducted research, and published numerous papers on solar radiation, ozone, and wind energy measurements.<ref name="hindu_2001_10_14">{{cite news|last=Sur|first=Abha|title=The Life and Times of a Pioneer|url=http://hindu.com/2001/10/14/stories/1314078b.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413141835/http://hindu.com/2001/10/14/stories/1314078b.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 April 2014|accessdate=7 October 2012|newspaper=[The Hindu](/source/The_Hindu)|date=14 October 2001}}</ref>
* [Sverre Petterssen](/source/Sverre_Petterssen), member of the Norwegian School of Meteorology and later one of the three team leaders of [James Stagg](/source/James_Stagg) for the [Normandy landings](/source/Normandy_landings).<ref>Fleming, James Rodger. "Sverre Petterssen, the Bergen School, and the forecasts for D-Day." ''Proceedings of the International Commission on History of Meteorology'' 1.1 (2004): 75–83. [http://www.meteohistory.org/2004proceedings1.1/pdfs/08fleming.pdf]</ref>
* [James Stagg](/source/James_Stagg), RAF meteorologist who was responsible for three teams of meteorologists predicting a lull for June 6, 1944, which allowed the landings in Normandy.<ref>{{cite news |last=Buttle |first=Cameron |date=5 June 2019 |title=The RAF weathermen who helped save D-Day |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-48498383 |work=BBC Scotland |access-date=9 June 2019}}</ref>
* [Carl-Gustaf Rossby](/source/Carl-Gustaf_Rossby), was a Swedish meteorologist foremost known for identifying and characterizing the waves seen in [jet streams](/source/jet_streams) as well as in the [westerlies](/source/westerlies) in the earth's atmosphere, known as [Rossby wave](/source/Rossby_wave)s, or planetary waves. Rossby was featured on the cover of ''[Time](/source/Time_(magazine))'' magazine on December 17, 1956, for his contributions to the field.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19561217,00.html|title=Time Magazine Cover: Carl-Gustaf Rossby|date=December 17, 1956|access-date=March 5, 2020}}</ref> The highest award of the [American Meteorological Society](/source/American_Meteorological_Society), of which Rossby was also a recipient in 1953, is named after him ([Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal](/source/Carl-Gustaf_Rossby_Research_Medal)).
* [Ted Fujita](/source/Ted_Fujita), a Japanese meteorologist well known for his studies on tornadoes and downburst, and the invention of the Fujita scale. He first studied the nuclear bomb dropped on [Nagasaki](/source/Fat_Man), which helped his future research on [downbursts](/source/Downburst). He did very detailed studies on multiple tornado events, giving detailed descriptions on how tornadoes form and become strong.<ref name="BAMS">{{cite journal |date= January 1, 2001 |title=A Tribute to the Works of T. Theodore Fujita |journal=[Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society](/source/Bulletin_of_the_American_Meteorological_Society) |language=en-us |publisher=[American Meteorological Society](/source/American_Meteorological_Society) |volume=82 |issue=1 |doi=10.1175/1520-0477-82.1.fmi |doi-access=free | df = dmy-all}}</ref>
* [Josh Wurman](/source/Joshua_Wurman), is a researcher in meteorology, for instance as a lead scientist of the [VORTEX2](/source/VORTEX2) project. He is also a meteorologist on the Discovery Channel's ''[Storm Chasers](/source/Storm_Chasers_(TV_series))'' series.<ref>{{cite web |author= |title=Schreiner Welcomes Tornado Chaser Dr. Joshua Wurman |date=2 October 2019 |url=https://schreiner.edu/schreiner-welcomes-tornado-chaser-dr-joshua-wurman/ |publisher=Schreiner University |access-date=2023-12-03}}</ref>

==See also==
*[Weather forecasting](/source/Weather_forecasting)
*[National Weather Service](/source/National_Weather_Service)
*[Certified Consulting Meteorologist](/source/Certified_Consulting_Meteorologist)
*[List of meteorologists](/source/List_of_meteorologists)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Meteorologists
Category:Science occupations

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Meteorologist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteorologist) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteorologist?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.