Running Head: Maps
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Tierra Williams
English 212
Saginaw Valley State University
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There are professions in the world that help society for their everyday lives: a fireman, a
police officer or even a babysitter. Certain types of professions deal with different types of
problems like aiding a sick person, teaching kids discipline or predicting weather for a local city.
Predicting weather is a profession that is a necessity for today's society. People would want to
know the weather to plan upcoming events, what to wear for the weather and what to do when it
comes to a natural disaster. Meteorologists are what society needs to answer those questions that
people asks themselves almost every day. People with that profession usually work with maps
and numbers. Meteorologists have the responsibility of predicting the climate in a specific area
due to their research and studies. They also work with math and maps when it comes to climate
change. Meteorologists have a great responsibility and it is important that they have the skills
and education in order to fulfill them.
The American Meteorologist Society is a scientific society that promotes the
development of information and education on the atmospheric and related oceanic and
hydrologic sciences. On their following website, they explain where meteorology comes from
and how ancient Greeks were apart of meteorology. The term meteorology is the science of the
atmosphere. It is originally from the Greek word "meteoron" which is something that happens in
the sky. Centuries ago, ancient Greeks observed clouds, winds, and rain and tried to understand
how they are connected to one another. The ancient Greeks were so interested in predicting the
future and knowing what to expect because the climate affected the farmers growing food and
the seamen that sailed on the seas.
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A meteorologist is a person with an education that uses a specific principle, a scientific
principle. They use the scientific principle to explain, understand, observe, or forecast the earth's
atmospheric phenomena or how the atmosphere affects the earth and life on the planet.
Meteorologists also have the responsibility to study the formation of destructive natural forces,
like hurricanes, thunderstorms and tornadoes. Meteorologists predict when natural disasters
might occur in a specific area and tell the public to take specific directions for such natural
disasters, for example taking shelter for a hurricane.
Meteorologists often focus on atmospheric research or operational weather forecasting.
Atmospheric research is basically research on the atmosphere and what is involved in it.
Operational weather forecasting is using science and technology to predict the state of the
atmosphere for a specific location. Forecasting has been known to be the center of meteorology.
Meteorologists also research the connection between the atmosphere and Earth’s climates,
oceans, and biological life. Forecasters use that research, with the atmospheric data as well, to
specify the current state of the atmosphere and make predictions of its future state. Atmospheric
conditions both at the Earth's surface and above are measured from multiple sources: weather
stations, ships, buoys, aircraft, radar, weather balloons, and satellites. The data is transmitted to
centers throughout the world that produce computer analyses of global weather. The analyses are
passed on to national and regional weather centers, which feed this data into computers that
predict the future state of the atmosphere. This transfer of information demonstrates how weather
and the study of it take place in multiple ways.
Becoming a meteorologist comes with certain education requirements. To fulfill such
responsibilities and to be committed to a field that requires a lot, education is taken seriously.
According to the website "Weather Wiz Kids", it explains the requirements that a future
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meteorologist would need. A four year Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology and
Atmospheric Sciences has to be completed. For higher positions in meteorology, having a degree
in Masters of Science is required as well. There are also certain classes that are required in order
to obtain such degrees. Classes like calculus, physics, dynamics, synoptics, and even computer
programming courses will be taken during the process of getting a degree.
Working in the meteorology field is not for everyone. There are certain characteristics
and traits that majority of meteorologist have in order to pursue that career. One of the
characteristics should have is having a general curiosity about the world and how it works.
Another characteristic that future meteorologists should have is to like the idea of working with
science that deals with society such as warning others of hazardous weather or investigating the
atmospheric forces that shape our weather and climate. Another characteristic that meteorologists
have is to like the idea of applying basic scientific principles to understand the behavior of the
atmosphere. To be intrigued by the concept of using mathematics as a language to describe
things that happens in the world would be another characteristic as well. Lastly, future
meteorologists should like subjects math and science.
Meteorologists deal not only with climates, but math and maps as well. To detect the
weather and its state in the future, meteorologists use charts & graphs, numeric modeling and
water and tempering meters. Using charts, graphs, and scales can help find answers to concerns
with the weather. Meteorologists must the use past information and the weather conditions it
took place in, to figure it out the next weather change. Analyzing past and current weather is a
huge part in making a prediction for the next weather forecast. An easy way to organize that
information is with scales. To predict the weather, meteorologists have sets of equations based
on the land’s geography and starting weather conditions. With this information they can calculate
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future forecast by entering it into a computer to be processed. Maps are used to locate a place in
which the meteorologist is going to forecast the weather for. They also show the highs and lows,
pressures, intensities, and humidity. Meteorologist Ryan Davis explains weather maps and how
to read them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NZz-EeveJ8
With the perks of working with science, math and maps, there is also a satisfying salary
that comes with being a meteorologist. From the U.S Bureau of Statistics, meteorologist's
median pay in the year of 2012 was $89, 260 per year which is $42.91 an hour. Meteorologists
working for the Federal government, excluding postal service has the salary of about $97,710 a
year. Meteorologists that work for Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local,
and private have the salary of $86,090. Lastly, for Radio and television broadcasting,
meteorologists make a salary of $82,310.
Since centuries ago, societies need someone to be able to tell the upcoming changes in
the climate. Without meteorologists, it would be very difficult to know what the future holds.
Becoming a meteorologist comes with the perk of obtaining a degree, working with subjects like
math and science, having a pay salary that most people would want and fueling the curiosity that
most meteorologists have. Meteorologists not only predicts the climate, but it helps the people
who live in it.
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References
Career Center: All About Careers in the Atmospheric and Related Sciences. (n.d.). Retrieved
April 19, 2015, from http://www.ametsoc.org/careercenter/careers.html
Crossley, L. (2009, September 4). Meteorologist Job Description. Retrieved April 19, 2015, from
http://www.ehow.com/about_5370563_meteorologist-job-description.html
Meteorology. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/meteorology/?ar_a=1
Meteorologist Ryan Davidson Explains Weather Maps. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2015, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NZz-EeveJ8
Summary. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-andsocial-science/atmospheric-scientists-including-meteorologists.htm#tab-5
Weather Wiz Kids weather information for kids. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2015, from
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/career-becoming-meteorologist.htm
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