• Atmospheric science is the study of the atmosphere—the blanket of air covering the Earth.
• Atmospheric scientists study the atmosphere's physical characteristics, motions, and processes, and the way in which these factors affect the rest of our environment.
• The best-known application of this knowledge is forecasting the weather.
• In addition to predicting the weather, atmospheric scientists attempt to identify and interpret climate trends, understand past weather, and analyze current weather.
• Weather information and atmospheric research are also applied in air-pollution control, agriculture, forestry, air and sea transportation, defence, and the study of possible trends in the Earth's climate, such as global warming, droughts, and ozone depletion.
• Atmospheric scientists who forecast the weather are known as operational meteorologists; they are the largest group of specialists.
  • These scientists study the Earth's air pressure, temperature, humidity, and wind velocity, and they apply physical and mathematical relationships to make short-range and long-range weather forecasts.
  • Their data come from weather satellites, radars, sensors, and stations in many parts of the world.
  • Meteorologists use sophisticated computer models of the world's atmosphere to make long-term, short-term, and local-area forecasts.
  • More accurate instruments for measuring and observing weather conditions, as well as high-speed computers to process and analyze weather data, have revolutionized weather forecasting.
  • Using satellite data, climate theory, and sophisticated computer models of the world's atmosphere, meteorologists can more effectively interpret the results of these models to make local-area weather predictions.
  • These forecasts inform not only the general public, but also those who need accurate weather information for economic and safety reasons, such as the shipping, air transportation, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and utilities industries.
  • Meteorologists use data collected from sophisticated technologies like atmospheric satellite monitoring equipment and ground-based radar systems.
  • Doppler radar, for example, can detect airflow patterns in violent storm systems, allowing forecasters to better predict thunderstorms, flash floods, tornadoes, and other hazardous winds, and to monitor the direction and intensity of storms.
  • They also monitor surface weather stations and launch weather balloons, which carry equipment that measures wind, temperature, and humidity in the upper atmosphere.
• While meteorologists study and forecast weather patterns in the short term, climatologists study seasonal variations in weather over months, years, or even centuries.
  • They may collect, analyze, and interpret past records of wind, rainfall, sunshine, and temperature in specific areas or regions.
  • Some look at patterns in weather over past years to determine, for example, whether a coming season will be colder or warmer than usual.
  • Their studies are used to design buildings, plan heating and cooling systems, and aid in effective land use and agricultural production.
• Some atmospheric scientists work exclusively in research. Physical meteorologists, for example, study the atmosphere's chemical and physical properties; the transmission of light, sound, and radio waves; and the transfer of energy in the atmosphere.
  • They also study other atmospheric phenomena, such as the factors affecting the formation of clouds, rain, and snow; the dispersal of air pollutants over urban areas; and the mechanics of severe storms.
• Environmental problems, such as pollution and shortages of fresh water, have widened the scope of the meteorological profession.
  • Environmental meteorologists study these problems and may evaluate and report on air quality for environmental impact statements.
  • Other research meteorologists examine the most effective ways to control or diminish air pollution.

• Those with graduate degrees should enjoy better prospects than those with only a bachelor’s degree.
• Most new jobs are expected to arise in private industry.
• As research leads to continuing improvements in weather forecasting, demand should grow for private weather consulting firms to provide more detailed information than has formerly been available, especially to climate-sensitive industries.
• Farmers, commodity investors, insurance companies, utilities, and transportation and construction firms can greatly benefit from additional weather information more closely targeted to their needs than the general information provided by the National Weather Service.
• Additionally, research on seasonal and other long-range forecasting is yielding positive results, which should spur demand for more atmospheric scientists to interpret these forecasts and advise climate-sensitive industries.
• However, because many customers for private weather services are in industries sensitive to fluctuations in the economy, the sales and growth of private weather services depend on the health of the economy.
• Atmospheric scientists will face keen competition, as the number of graduates from college and university atmospheric sciences programs is expected to exceed the number of openings in the field.
• Although overall opportunities will be limited, the best prospects will be in private industry.
• Few opportunities are expected in government as atmospheric scientists will only need to be hired to replace workers who retire or leave the field.
• Openings for academic researchers will be limited due to the small number of positions.
• Workers with graduate degrees should enjoy better prospects than those with only a bachelor’s degree.

Workers in other occupations concerned with the physical environment include Chemists and materials scientists; Engineers; Environmental scientists and specialists; Geoscientists and hydrologists; Mathematicians; Physicists and astronomers.

• Bachelor's degree in meteorology or atmospheric science
• Master's degree in meteorology or atmospheric science
• Ph.D. in meteorology or atmospheric science