The condition of the atmosphere, especially wind, temperature, and relative humidity, greatly influence the spread of wildfires. Meteorologists work closely with forestry specialists in predicting when fire hazards are rising in order to mandate prevention measures (banning open burning in campgrounds, for example). Once a fire has started, forecasts become critical in determining where to make fire breaks, how to position (and evacuate) crews, and planning sorties by fire retardant bombing aircraft.

Railroads and especially highway traffic are seriously impacted by the weather. Each year weather causes or contributes to 6,000 fatalities on American highways. Keeping roads free of snow is critical. Over a half-billion dollars a year are spent preparing for snows that are predicted but never materialize. Clearly there is economic incentive for improvement. Many states are now establishing networks of weather stations specifically to monitor highway weather conditions. Temperature forecasts are also important for trucking firms shipping perishable items. Sending an unheated truck through territory where the temperature can drop below zero can be a problem when there is a load of cut flowers on board. Railroads must be cognizant of severe weather (winds and tornadoes) as well as deep and drifting snows during the winter. Private forecasting firms work closely with many transportation companies.

The sea is a dangerous and unforgiving place. Mariners need the best weather information available. Forecasters prepare many products to aid both commercial and recreational maritime activities. By using winds to forecast waves and sea conditions, more economical routing of passenger and cargo vessels can save huge sums in fuel.
Avoiding areas of very rough seas is vital to safety. How high can waves get on the open ocean? One buoy in the North Atlantic reported one “swell” at 101 feet above mean water level. Rogue waves, some over 75 feet high, have long terrified mariners. In 1984, a 117-foot three-masted tall ship sunk in less than one minute north of Bermuda with a heavy loss of life after being struck by such a monster. Marine forecasters become involved in oil spill cleanup operations by assisting with predictions about the spread of the slick. Warnings of tsunamis from earthquakes and landslides have saved countless lives.
Distributing weather forecasts and encouraging people to heed their message still remains a challenge. During the March 1993 “Storm of the Century,” over 200 people perished. Many of these lives were lost needlessly. The storm was well fore casted several days in advance. One ship’s captain ignored a warning not to leave his Gulf Coast port. He paid for this imprudence with the loss of his ship, his crew of 33, and his own life.

One of the earliest users of weather forecasting was the aviation industry. Today aviation weather forecasters work in the National Weather Service, the military, and private weather companies. Pilots need forecasts before they even take off to be sure that they will be able to land at their chosen destination or alternates. En route, avoidance of icing, severe turbulence, and thunderstorms is essential. Weather is still the leading cause of flight delays and cancellations (about half) and of aviation accidents, which result in 800 lives lost in the United States annually. Improvements are needed not only in the forecasts themselves but in the communication of the information to the pilots and their proper utilization of the forecasts. Accurate winds aloft forecasts are vital to economizing on fuel for long-haul jet traffic. Improved wind forecasting could save an additional quarter-billion dollars in aviation fuel each year.

Networking and keeping your ear to the ground is probably the number one way to find out about positions. Asking people already in the business can be a big source of job leads. Starting out as an intern can be invaluable. The AMS publishes monthly list in of employment opportunities. Many college departments keen job announcements posted on the bulletin boards near the department office. Weather-casting positions are sometimes advertised in Broadcasting. Organizations such as the National Weather Service and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) routinely publish their open positions (now often in electronic format). Many private sector jobs are arranged through personal contacts. If you have the training, good references, and healthy work ethic, chances are the work will find you. No matter what the position, you must be able to provide any employer with professional competence and good work habits.

Aside from the numerous financial aid programs offered by colleges and universities, there are several scholarship programs administered by the American Meteorological Society. Contact the AMS for information. Summer intern programs with a stipend are provided to undergraduate students through the National Council of Industrial Meteorologists. Check with the Meteorology Department office at the college and university for details.
The military weather services in the Air Force and Navy are a career option. If you choose to enter as a commissioned officer, you’ll normally be awarded a ROTC scholarship to complete your bachelor’s degree. After graduation, you attend Officer Training School.

Many atmospheric scientists are members of the American Geophysical Union (2000 Florida Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20009). The AGU conducts numerous scientific meetings that span the breadth of geophysics and publishes a number of well-regarded technical journals, including Geophysical Research Letters and the Journal of Geo physical Research. Those interested in forecasting and the operational aspects of meteorology often join the National Weather Association (6704 Wolke Court, Montgomery, Alabama, 36116-2134). The NWA publishes the National Weather Digest.
  

image: The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). A nice place to work!

The primary scientific and professional society for atmospheric sciences in the United States is the American Meteorological Society. It has over 10,000 members who work in the various disciplines of meteorology, oceanography, and hydrology. The objectives of the Society are the development and dissemination of knowledge of the atmosphere and related oceanic and hydrological sciences, and the advancement of their professional applications. Membership is open to all. There is a grade of Associate Member for those who are interested in the goals of the Society but not educationally qualified for full membership. Student membership is available for those enrolled at least half time at an accredited institution of higher learning. The AMS publishes a number of major technical journals including Weather and Forecasting, Journal of Climate, Monthly Weather Review, Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, and the Journal of Applied Meteorology. The official publication of the AMS is the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Their headquarters are located at 45 Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108-3693.
The AMS has a number of local charters scattered throughout the United States, many associated with universities and large National Weather Service installations. The Society publishes a number of technical journals, holds numerous conferences and technical meetings, promotes continuing education conferences and pre-college educational activities, and operates certification programs for consulting meteorologists and radio and television broadcasters.

Not everyone presenting forecasts on radio or television is a trained meteorologist. Some are simply broadcasters who “rip and read,” hopefully without their own embellishments, forecasts prepared by the National Weather Service or a private forecasting company. But there are many professional meteorologists working in the media. In order to help the viewers identify those weathercasters who indeed have the training, experience, and judgment to communicate the complex weather information in a professional and reliable manner, the American Meteorological Society has established its Seal of Approval. There are separate seals for radio and television. Each weather- caster presents their credentials and sample programs to a review board of his or her peers that accepts or declines their petition. Once granted, the Seal must be renewed periodically, encouraging the broadcasters to be involved with continuing education courses and upgrading the quality of their presentations.

Many aspiring meteorologists yearn to “get into television.” It is possible, but it is not always easy. First, you need the basic training in meteorology, particularly in the practical aspects of forecasting. You should be reasonably telegenic, or at least have an engaging on-air personality. Computer skills are most valuable. College courses in communications, if available, are often very valuable. Starting out working at campus radio or television stations gets a foot in the door, as does volunteering for summer intern work (often without pay) at the local commercial television station. Having a mentor who already works in the business can be a big help. At some point you have to have a demo videotape of yourself to be able to send to news directors at various stations so they can see how you come across on the air. Getting that first demo tape is often a challenge, but sometimes it can be part of the deal for working as a summer intern or at the campus station. And getting on the air usually doesn’t mean big city lights and lots of glamour at first. It usually means starting with the 6 A.M. weather cut-ins in a small town, working your way up to weekend weather in slightly larger markets, and then maybe the morning show in an even larger market. It usually takes ten years or more of service in the smaller markets before you can expect to become established in a major market. Plan to move a lot. And also plan for the fact that your job security may be minimal. But media work can be very professionally rewarding, some meteorologists do stay at the same station for decades, and even if you don’t stay in the business forever, it is a good springboard to other activities.