What is Meteorology?

Meteorology is the science of the atmosphere, including the interaction between the atmosphere and the surface. Meteorology embraces both weather and climate. Weather has an impact on many things including ecosystems, health, travel, energy and food production.  There are news stories about weather events almost every day - floods, droughts, storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and melting ice. The weather affects all of us, individually, as a community and through our career and leisure activities. 

The changing climate will have an ever-increasing impact on our lives through changes to our weather and weather worldwide. As almost every profession adapts to a differing environment, understanding the climate system is becoming fundamental to an increasing number of organisations.  

Underpinning our understanding of all of this is meteorology - the study of weather and climate. 

 

Why is meteorology important? 

Imagine you're enjoying breakfast at your kitchen table – porridge with strawberries and a coffee. 

Each ingredient has a story shaped by weather and climate: 

  • Coffee beans from South America thrive in tropical climates, understood through global atmospheric circulation. Their journey to the UK relies on accurate marine weather forecasts. Researchers from Switzerland have shown that the extent of the most suitable land for coffee cultivation globally could halve by 2025 due to climate change (R Grüter et al, 2022).
  • Oats grown in the UK benefit from a temperate climate and regular rainfall. Farmers depend on forecasts and rain radar to time their harvests.
  • Strawberries from Spain grow year-round thanks to its warm climate. Supermarkets have ordered a certain amount based on the weather forecast for the UK. Usually, hotter weather increases the demand. Scientists are tackling challenges like Spain’s declining strawberry yields due to rising temperatures, reduced rainfall and more intense storms. They're exploring solutions like irrigation and biofuel-powered shipping but also working out where it will be best to grow strawberries in 10-20 years. 

And what about your outfit? Did you check the weather before choosing shorts? Maybe you're checking the forecast while eating. 

Weather and climate touch every part of life - from food and energy to travel and ecosystems. 
At the heart of it all is meteorology: the science that helps us understand, predict, and adapt to our ever-changing world. 

 

Why does the world need meteorologists? 

Meteorologists are essential because they help us understand and predict the weather and prepare for long-term changes. With changing patterns of extreme weather in the UK and around the world due to climate change, having experts who can predict and communicate the weather is more important than ever. Meteorologists provide information that helps governments, organisations, and individuals make better decisions for health, safety, and sustainability, both in the short- and long-term. 

 

Why should you have a career in weather and climate? 

A career in weather and climate can be exciting and impactful. If you're curious about how the world works, passionate about solving problems, enjoy communicating the science that impacts everyone and want your work to be impactful, meteorology is a great field. 

There are a number of roles in in meteorology and climate, some more traditional like a broadcast weather forecaster, or a climate scientist working out how hurricanes and heatwaves are going to change in intensity and frequency to name just a few. However, opportunities are broader than this as shown in our Careers for Climate booklet. Jobs can include: 

  • Lawyer for an environmental NGO  - using law to try effect systemic change to protect the planet
  • Regenerative farmer – growing food in a way which strives to be climate positive whilst adapting the changing climate conditions
  • A disaster relief associate – guiding individuals and organisations to navigate disaster risk and its financing 

(Insert pictures here of the correct people from careers booklet and also include Kirsty’s picture as a weather forecaster from careers guide)