Station Scientist

Broadcast meteorologists are often the only people in television newsrooms who have a background in science.  That makes them qualified not just to deliver the weather, but also to provide more science news to the viewing audience. 

The American Meteorological Society (AMS), the nation’s premier professional organization for those in the atmospheric and related sciences, is promoting the notion of regarding broadcast meteorologists as the “station scientists,” and equipping them to cover a broader range of science topics for their station, in addition to tomorrow’s weather.  This would include environmental and space issues, weather and climate impacts on public health, transportation, agriculture, energy use, and other topics.

What's New:

Radiological Dispersion Information for Station Scientists

The Committee on the Station Scientist met with President Tom Karl at the 37th AMS Conference on Broadcast Meteorology in Portland, Oregon. 

Pictured (L to R) are:  Patrick Powell, Committee Chairman Paul Gross, Davis Nolan, Randee Exler, Jim Gandy, Kelly Beatty, AMS President Tom Karl, Emilie Lorditch, AMS Commissioner on Professional Affairs John Morales, Sean Potter, and Dan Satterfield.  Not pictured:  Rob Eicher, Sara Espinoza, and Linda Paige.

Scientific Assessment Captures Effects of a Changing Climate on
Extreme Weather Events in North America (PDF)

GUEST EDITORIAL:
COMMUNICATING GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE TO THE PUBLIC AND CLIENTS
By Bob Ryan and John Toohey-Morales
Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get.” This often-used quote takes on a new meaning these days because what to “expect” in the future has become a spirited, often polarized, and increasingly nonscientific “debate.” Increasing numbers of broadcast
meteorologists, to whom the public looks for information and guidance on climate change and global warming, are not offering scientific information but rather, all too often, nonscientific personal opinions in the media, including personal blogs.

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