Many of us have probably watched the evening news weatherman and thought, "Man, I could do that job...well, maybe if I had better teeth." Of course, one needs more than just good teeth to be a TV weatherperson; first, you would have to become a certified meteorologist.

Contrary to what you may have been told, meteorologists do not study asteroids. Meteorology, of course, is the study of weather. So what does it take to become a professional in this field? Well, like most other fields, a degree is required. In order to obtain that degree, a lot of science courses and a fair amount of math classes must be taken. If science isn't your cup of tea, then you probably wouldn't enjoy meterology.

Meteorologists are trained to collect extensive data, assemble and assimilate the data into a usuable analysis, and forcast weather conditions based on that analysis. Fortunately, computers make this job much easier. Computer models generate forcasts almost instantly based on current and projected atmospheric conditions. A large part of being a meteorologists is learning how to read and interpret the various computer models accurately.

Of course, very few meteorologists ever go on to become network weathermen. Like other TV personalities, weathermen (or women) have the glamour positions in meteorology, and may not be the most skilled meteorologists. Most meteorologists end up working for the National Weather Service or local weather offices.

Learn more about this author, Joe Wrighter.
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