University Teaching and Research

In addition to holding a faculty or teaching position, university and college professors often perform research, typically supported by government or foundation grants. Although such research runs the gamut from basic to applied, most of the work tends toward the basic end of the scale. At one university, for instance, there is an ongoing effort to examine the role of oceans in climate over a range of timescales from seasonal to millennial. Another institution is involved in micrometeorological and boundary layer modeling, as well as the modeling of vegetation-atmosphere interactions. A third school is developing a cloud physics research program that will include climate and mesoscale modeling, aerosol physics, radiative transfer, and atmospheric chemistry.

A final note on teaching: Meteorology is seldom, if ever, taught as a stand-alone subject at the elementary and secondary school levels. Most often it is integrated into the general science curriculum or presented as part of a physics, earth sciences, or general science course. If your goal is to teach atmospheric science at levels below college or university, you must set your sights on becoming a physics, earth, or general sciences teacher.

Other Career Opportunities