About Meteorology

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By Joan Reinbold
eHow Contributing Writer

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Since ancient times, people have looked to the sky to see what the weather was like before going outside. And just about every culture has its own sayings about the weather that represent a form of forecast. An example is the saying "Red sky at night, sailor's delight; red sky in morning, sailors take warning." But a more serious study of the atmosphere, in association with the weather and determining what may happen, is the field of meteorology.

History of

Anvil-Shaped Cloud
Atmospheric sciences cover many areas of study including meteorology. Meteorology uses scientific methods to study the patterns of climate and weather within the Earth's atmosphere. Aristotle wrote about the water cycle from evaporation to its returning to the earth as precipitation as far back as 350 BC in his work called "Meteorology." Many developments in science since then make more accurate weather predictions possible. These developments range from the thermometer and the barometric pressure gauge to the computerized modeling of atmospheric conditions.

Benefits

Why is there such an emphasis on knowing what the weather is going to be?
Meteorology helps in many areas. By warning of major storms people can prepare, so lives and property can be protected. Farmers use forecasts in order to decide when to plant or harvest. This impacts the stock market for dealing in commodities or for utilities. Utility companies can plan ahead for peak or low times of energy consumption. Airports determine when to cancel flights. Or it may be as simple as taking an umbrella for the day or planning outdoor activities.

Misconceptions

Yet meteorology is not all scientific equipment. Even at its best, meteorology relies on the observations made by many people. People on the ground keep track of the amount of precipitation, whether rain or snow. And then there are those people who fly into hurricanes to obtain information. But these people do use meteorological equipment to take measurements. These are thermometers for the temperature; barometers for air pressure; anemometers for wind speed and hygrometers to see what the humidity is.

Identification

Who are the meteorologists? In order to become a meteorologist you need a bachelor's degree in meteorology. A field of study that is related such as atmospheric science may also be accepted. It may be necessary to have a master's degree for some positions. Research usually requires a Ph. D.
Work is in weather stations, which can be in remote areas, near or in cities, or at airports or in planes. The work is usually going on 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This means you could be working any time of the day or night. There is broadcast work for television or radio. If there is an emergency you may be at work until the danger is over. However, if the meteorological position doesn't deal with forecasting, work will be during regular office hours

The Facts

There are numerous organizations that provide information and development within meteorology. Some of these are the American Meteorology Association, the National Weather Service and the World Meteorological Organization.