What do I need to be a Meteorologist?

Question

Ok so i am 13 n i love the idea of announcing the weather. n since i am suupperr ahead in my life n career in the future i would like to know what type of schools i should go to, what degrees i need, and what r the qualifications? Just curious n wondering

Answer 1

i WOULD SUGGEST YOU STUDY MATH AND SCIENCE TO BEGIN WITH, LATERWHEN YOU GO TO HIGH SCHOOLAND EVENTUALLY COLLEGE, YOU WOULD STUDY GEOGRAPHY AND PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY AND COMPUTER SCIENCE. tHIS IS OF COURSE ASSUMING YOU WANT TO BE A REAL AMS MEMBER AND NOT JUST A WEATHERGIRL..GOOD LUCK! YOU'LL DO FINE!

Answer 2

Tolerance towards criticism.

Answer 3

you would have to go to meteorology school

Answer 4

First of all keep looking to the stars!

Jobs? | Courses | Requirements | Application process | Acceptance | Fees | FAQ | Contact  

Weather plays an important role in our daily lives. Forecasts provide the information we need to plan activities, and a timely report of severe weather can save lives and millions of dollars. The future of weather is a concern worldwide because climate change has the potential to alter familiar precipitation patterns. Trained meteorologists make important contributions to regional, national, and international prediction and observational efforts. Through the Atmospheric Science Programme in the Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science at Dalhousie University, we educate tomorrow's meteorologists in a stimulating and dynamic research environment.

The Diploma in Meteorology (D. Met.) is a one-year programme designed to train forecasters and provide a strong background in atmospheric science for studies at the graduate level. It may be pursued alone or in combination with a Majors Physics degree. This page provides information for student considering applying to the D. Met. programme at Dalhousie.

Graduate degrees in Atmospheric Science are also available through the Departments of Physics and Atmospheric Science and Oceanography. See the Atmospheric Science Web Page for more details.



Who hires meteorologists?

Many different groups in both the public and private sectors hire meteorologists. The Canadian Meteorological and Oceanogrphic Society (CMOS) maintains a list of advertisements for careers in meteorology.

Some employers who hire meterologists are:

Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) - A division of Environment Canada, MSC is responsible for weather forecasts, observations, and climate research. They maintain an extensive jobs site that describes the excellent benefits of MSC employment. A D. Met. is required to work as a meteorologist at MSC.

The Weather Network (Toronto, Ontario) - A cable TV station serving weather information to eight million people per week. See their careers page.

AMEC Earth and Environmental - A full service environmental consulting firm. See their careers page.

Oceans Ltd. (Newfoundland/Nova Scotia) - specializing in marine meteorology

Scotia Weather Services (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia) - weather forecasting and environmental consulting



Courses

The courses are taught by leading researchers and professors in the Atmospheric Science Programme, and by experienced meteorologists from the Meteorological Service of Canada. The courses taken by D . Met. students are Introduction to Atmospheric Science, Atmospheric Physics I (Atmospheric Thermodynamics) and II (Introduction to Aerosol and Cloud Physics), Synoptic Meteorology I and II, Atmospheric Dynamics I and II, Physical Oceanography, Atmospheric Chemistry, and Light Scattering, Radiative Transfer, and Remote Sensing or Numerical Modelling of Atmospheres and Oceans.

The additional courses taken during the 20-credit B.Sc. in Physics combined with the Diploma are described on this page maintained by the Dalhousie Registrar's Office, which gives the definitive degree and diploma requirements.



Admission requirements

The admission requirements depend upon whether the D. Met. is pursued alone or in combination with a Majors Physics degree:

One-year D. Met.: The D. Met. may be pursued in a one-year course of study following the completion of a B.Sc. in any discipline (in Physics, Chemistry, etc.) at Dalhousie University or elsewhere. A strong background in mathematics and at least 1st year Physics is required. The D. Met. coordinator reviews each applicant's courses and grades to ensure an appropriate background before acceptance.

Combined D. Met. / Majors Physics B. Sc.: The D. Met. is also offered in combination with a Majors B.Sc. in the Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science at Dalhousie. In this case, enrollment in the D. Met. programme is normally pursued after completing second year in the Majors Physics programme.



Application process

Students who wish to enroll in the one-year or combined programmes follow a similar application procedure.

One-year D. Met.: Fill out the application available on this page and write "Diploma in Meteorology" in section "3b" under "non-degree students". Mail the form to the "Registrar's Office, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3H 4H6", or send it by fax to 902-494-1630. Arrange to have original transcripts from your undergraduate university sent to the Registrar's Office; they should indicate that your degree has been completed / conferred. The application fee is $70. Finally, notify the D. Met. coordinator of your application.

Combined D. Met. / Majors Physics B. Sc.: For applicants already enrolled in the Majors Physics programme, fill out the application available on this page and write "Diploma in Meteorology (Concurrent)" in section "3b" under "non-degree students". Mail the form to the "Registrar's Office, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3H 4H6", or send it by fax to 902-494-1630. Arrange to have your transcripts sent to the Registrar's Office. The application fee is $70. Finally, notify the D. Met. coordinator of your application and send him photocopies of your transcripts by mail or fax.

Application deadlines are given on this page.

You may also be interested in reading this page for prospective students.



Acceptance

Provisional notification of acceptance will be emailed by the D. Met. coordinator, and officially confirmed in writing by the Registrar's Office at a later date.

Acceptance to the programme is determined by the programme coordinator on a case-by-case basis.



Tuition Fees

The tuition fees per term are the same as for an undergraduate degree. Information on fees at Dalhousie University can be found here; please also see the Student Accounts FAQ. Prospects for financial aid are described here, and financial aid inquiries can be made to [e-mail].



Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Do you offer the D. Met. by correspondence?

A. No.

Q. What housing is available?

A. Both on-campus and off-campus housing options are available.

Q. I am a highschool student interested in meteorology. What should I take?

A. Because Meteorology is a Physical Science, a good background in Mathematics and Physics is important. Minimum requirements for admission to undergraduate programmes at Dalhousie are provided here.

Q. What university degrees / courses would best prepare me for the D. Met?

A. The best background for the programme can be obtained through a degree in Physics or Mathematics. Students taking other degrees in Science (e.g., Chemistry) should be sure to take courses in Differential Equations, Vector Calculus, and Vector Algebra, and at least first year Physics.

Q. What are the grade requirements for acceptance into the programme?

A. There are no formal grade requirements; instead, the D. Met. coordinator assesses the background of each applicant individually to determine their level of preparation for the programme.

Q. Can I take the D. Met. concurrently with the ________ programme at Dalhousie?

A. The D. Met. can only be taken concurrently with a Majors degree in Physics. Students taking other B. Sc. degrees still have the option of taking the D. Met. in a one-year post-graduate programme.

Q. Can I transfer into the concurrent Physics / D. Met. programme from my current University?

A. Transferring will require acceptance into the Faculty of Science at Dalhousie; please contact the Registrar's Office. The approval of course transfers in Physics is decided by the Physics Undergraduate Coordinator, David Tindall ([e-mail]).

Q. I have taken the course in ________ elsewhere; can I be exempted from taking it in the D. Met. programme?

A. Exemptions from D. Met. courses are generally not allowed. Exemptions from Physics courses in the concurrent programme need to be discussed with the Physics Undergraduate Coordinator, David TIndall ([e-mail]).

Q. How much money can I expect to make as a meteorologist?

A. In a recent advertisement for positions at the Meteorological Service of Canada, they described salaries as "Commensurate with qualifications, within the range $23,796 to $65,350 per annum". So, get qualified!