Scouting, Volume 77, Number 3, September 1989 Page: E06
90, E1-E16, [16] p. : ill. (some col.) ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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CAREER FILE: A Fflll^WOfllllOf
forecast for Met
39
BY BILL SLOAN
Ever wondered why the science of observing, describing,
understanding, and forecasting the weather is called meteorol-
ogy—especially when it has nothing to do with meteors?
Well, you can probably blame it on Aristotle. As unlikely as it
may seem, the famed thinker of ancient Greece and your favorite
TV weatherman actually have a lot in common.
A
lRISTOTLE MISTAKENLY be-
lieved that comets, meteors, and au-
roras, as well as wind, thunder, and
lightning, resulted when the sun
heated air above the earth and
caused it to rise. He explained his
theories in a book called Meteorolo-
gica, which means "the study of
things above," and provided us with
the modern term, meteorology.
Ever since Aristotle's time, other
prognosticators have been advanc-
ing their own theories (and often
making mistakes) about weather
patterns and what causes them.
Even today's highly skilled meteor-
ologists aren't completely infallible,
but with the help of earth-orbiting
satellites and sophisticated new
computer-based technologies, they
have perfected weather forecasting
into an amazingly accurate science.
In the process, they have also cre-
ated a fascinating profession.
Meteorology is a small field in
comparison to many other scientific
areas. Only about 6,000 U.S. civil-
ians (plus several thousand more
members in the armed forces) are
employed as meteorologists. The Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, which includes the
National Weather Service, ranks as
the largest single employer.
Jobs in meteorology are expected
to grow at an above-average rate in
the 1990s as many segments of pri-
vate industry seek their own weather
experts.
If you're the type of person who has
always been intrigued by the
weather, you could become part of
this unique profession. To do so,
you'll need at least a bachelor's de-
gree from one of the 50 or so U.S.
universities offering degrees in at-
mospheric and related oceanic and
hydrologic sciences.
While a degree is an essential pre-
requisite to almost all nonmilitary
meteorologist jobs, a genuine inter-
est in the subject is probably just as
important, according to Dr. Joel
Meyers, president of Accu-Weather,
the nation's largest private weather
service. Based in State College, Pa.,
Accu-Weather provides forecasts and
other weather information to about
400 radio and TV stations across the
country.
"Most meteorologists don't go into
it to get rich," Dr. Meyers says, "but
they are people who developed an in-
terest in the weather very early in
life. If you haven't recognized this in-
terest by about the age of 12, chances
are you ought to be doing some other
kind of work."
Meteorologists can expect to earn
attractive salaries after gaining
several years of professional ex-
perience. Entry-level salaries for
someone with a bachelor's degree
and no experience range from about
$15,000 to $18,000 per year in both
E6
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 77, Number 3, September 1989, periodical, September 1989; Irving, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth353657/m1/52/: accessed May 22, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.