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Course: Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
You’ve got your bathing suit on and your sun block packed, but by the time you get to the beach, it’s pouring rain. What happened to that sunny day you expected? Why is the weather so changeable, so uncertain?
Meteorology is the field of science that seeks to understand and predict short-term weather as well as long-term climate processes.
Meteorology students study the atmosphere (the gases that surround the earth), focusing on the weather and how to forecast it. Areas of study include the climate, the physics of the atmosphere, and chemistry.
Are You Ready To...?
- Go to graduate school if you're interested in conducting research
- Spend time in labs
- Keep up with continually changing technology
- Solve endless problems in calculus, chemistry, and physics
- Collect and interpret data, such as the speed and direction of a storm
It Helps To Be...
Into math and computers. People who are willing to take on challenges to satisfy their interest in the climate, environment, and weather will enjoy this major.
College Checklist
- Will you get to take all the courses you'll need if you want to work for the federal government as an entry-level forecaster?
- If the school doesn't offer a major in meteorology, can you still take the necessary courses as a student of physics, earth science, geography, or another related field?
- Does the school offer courses related to areas, such as air quality, in which you have an interest?
- Will you have opportunities to conduct research?
- What sort of meteorological equipment will you have access to?
- Are there broadcasting studios on campus (if you want to work in radio or TV)?
Did You Know?
Meteorology is more than just looking at weather maps. It also involves advanced math and complex scientific concepts.
Course Spotlight
In meteorology synoptics, you’ll learn about forecasting the weather for large areas — think states, not cities. Most of your time will be spent in the lab, where you’ll practice reading computer-generated charts, interpreting satellite images, and examining radar data.
You’ll use what you find to study, for example, the beginnings of large storms and to answer some of the same questions we all ask nearly every day: Do I need an umbrella? Is it hot enough to wear shorts?