Students who wish to become researchers should complete a doctoral degree. However, in most universities students will be encouraged to explore different options and take advantage of other courses as well, such as those in oceanography, geophysics, biology or ecology. Meteorology is the study of weather and weather forecasting. Military operations such as troop movements, airplane flights, missile launches, and ship movements rely on accurate weather information. Accurate weather forecasts can save lives and equipment in military operations.
Meteorologists study weather conditions and prepare current and long range weather forecasts.
You begin your career directing data collection and interpreting weather maps, observation data, and satellite information. As you gain leadership and forecasting skills, you will serve in positions of increasing responsibility. As a meteorologist, you also supervise enlisted weather observers. Weather observers collect information about weather and sea conditions for use by meteorologists. They make visual observations and take readings from weather equipment, radar scans, and satellite photographs.