When I was a child actually. I will include some more information below about my scientific career. It is cold, damp, cramped and uncomfortable and a little scary in submersibles, but other than that it isn't too bad. One of the fundamental problems faced by oceanographers is the large size of the oceans. Oceans cover 70 per cent of the Earth's surface.
Satellites allow measurements to be made over vast ocean areas on a daily basis.
In the United States alone, hurricanes have been responsible for at least 17,000 deaths since 1900. Hurricanes also cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage annually. It looks like we are in a weather cycle where hurricanes may be getting worse and more frequent. When I publish papers, it shows the scientists what advancements we are making and how they can use our research to help them do their jobs better. I am usually intellectually drained by the time I get home in the evenings.