Meteorologist vs. Weatherman
Meteorology is the study of air circulation patterns in the troposphere, the lower level of the Earth’s atmosphere. These patterns are affected by heating from the sun’s radiation, heat reflected from the surface of the Earth and oceans, and the physical, chemical and geological reactions that create these effects. Meteorologists are scientists who study a part of this broad combination of subjects. Observations and measurements made by meteorologist may be used to forecast the Earth’s weather patterns. Weather professionals are the professionals who broadcast these forecasts. They may or may not be scientists, but they must know how to communicate.
Education is Key
The American Meteorology Society recommends that a meteorologist should have at least a B.S. degree in a subject that includes meteorology and geoscience courses. He must have an exceptional ability in math and physics. Ideally, this should be evident in the student at a high school level. Graduates with liberal arts as well as science degrees may become weathermen. Non-graduates may also do the job. The important factor is that they are very articulate.
Training Makes a Difference
The meteorologist must have expertise in interpreting satellite and radar images of the atmosphere. He may pursue education and specialize at master’s and doctorate levels in subjects such as cloud or atmospheric physics and oceanography. Universities such as Mississippi State offer an off-campus program in broadcast meteorology for anyone hoping to pursue a career in making weather forecasts from scientific observations and analysis.
The weatherman has to read this forecast. He needs to train in autocue and other on-camera techniques. Non-scientist weather professionals may increase their knowledge of meteorology by taking short courses in the subject, privately or during working hours. The American Meteorological Society provides a variety of certifications to pursue.
Performance is Everything
The weather person's on-camera performance is crucial both to his own career and the broadcaster for whom he works. Many viewers tune in at the end of the news especially for the weather forecast. A good weather person may increase viewer ratings. Above all, he must remain calm in front of the camera when forecasting severe weather such as tornadoes and hurricanes. The meteorologist communicates mostly with his scientific colleagues at a specialist level in oral, written or digital form.
Perception and Popularity is Critical
Viewers of news and weather channel blame inaccurate weather forecasts most often on the weatherman rather than the meteorologist who produced it. The weatherman may have to answer for this error to an audience made up of an angry general public. Often, he may have to defend the integrity of both his employer at the broadcast channel and the meteorologist who supplied the forecast. The meteorologist argues his case for any hypothesis concerning atmospheric sciences with his scientific peers in specialist journals and at conferences. He may speak freely and not worry about emotional reactions from the general public.
Consider the Compensation
Though some weather people in large markets are paid very well, often in the six-figure range, generally meteorologists working in broadcasting earn less than their counterparts working in other areas. You'll find positions in research labs, the National Weather Service, radio and television. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median meteorologist salary was $95,380 as of 2019. The highest salary was $147,160 and the lowest was $49,700. A six percent increase in available positions is projected between now and 2029.