Open Forum: TV meteorologists are weather scientists

11:25 PM, Aug. 30, 2013  |  Comments
  • Filed Under

THE QUESTION: One area that plays on my curiosity is the title that introduces the names of our (television) meteorologists. For example, many years ago, there was a meteorologist titled "master meteorologist." Now I hear the title "degreed chief meteorologist," "degreed meteorologist" and simply using the title, "meteorologist." What is the scoop on becoming a meteorologist and obtaining a title?

THE ANSWER: Most meteorologists on TV today hold bachelor's degrees or higher in meteorology or some related science, according to Rob Perillo, chief meteorologist at KATC-TV3.

Television stations specify they are "degreed meteorologists" to make sure you know the forecasters you see on their weather reports are true weather scientists. Like other atmospheric scientists, they are capable of interpreting raw data and making predictions.

"We're considered 'applied forecasters,'" Perillo said.

A "chief degreed meteorologist," like Perillo, is simply the supervisor or manager of a team of meteorologists at a particular station.

You heard the term, "master meteorologist" in reference to former KLFY-TV meteorologist Dick Faurot, who left Lafayette in 1993 after 18 years at Channel 10 to return to his native Oklahoma. Faurot holds a master's degree, hence the "master meteorologist" designation conferred upon him by the TV station.

Although most meteorologists hold a degree, there are some who have learned the discipline through years of working at the job, Perillo said.

Broadcasters began employing degreed on-air meteorologists in the latter part of the 20th century. Before that, they were "weather readers," Perillo said. They were usually attractive men or women with a good on-air voice who would "rip and read" weather forecasts from the National Weather Service, Perillo said.

The American Meteorological Society defines a meteorologist as a person with "specialized education who uses scientific principles to explain, understand, observe, or forecast the earth's atmospheric phenomena and/or how the atmosphere affects the earth and life on the planet."

Earning a meteorology degree means studying a lot of math and science. TV meteorologists usually hold the same type of degrees as those who work for the National Weather Service, in research or for private companies.

It usually starts with about five semesters of math and three or four semesters of physics and chemistry, said Perillo, who earned his bachelor's degree from Oswego State University in New York.

The junior and senior years are devoted to studying thermodynamics, which is a combination of physics and chemistry.

"That's how we model the atmosphere - math and pure science," Perillo said.

Real Deals




Sign up for home delivery today