There are numerous misconceptions and jokes about meteorologists in people's minds. But, have you ever given a thought about how weather forecast is done and why it goes wrong sometimes?
1. Meteorologists get paid for being wrong
Yes, we all make jokes about weather forecast being wrong and meteorologist still getting paid for that. Weather forecasting is a very challenging business, where several dynamic forces working in the atmosphere can govern all types of motion in it. An experienced meteorologist’s forecast will be 80% - 90% correct.
2. Meteorologists just use a computer to do their job
‘Mets’ use computer model just as a tool to diagnose the atmospheric conditions. The weather technology is quite advance nowadays. The computer model simulates the motion in the atmosphere but, at times even the best computer generated weather model can go wrong. Therefore, an experienced meteorologist will never follow a model blindly. At times ‘mets’ have to rely on their intuition and experience to interpret the weather model data.
3. All 'mets' are storm chasers
If you think all meteorologists are storm chasers, then you are wrong. A meteorologist won’t go near a cyclone or a typhoon. They also love their precious life! All meteorologists are not as daring as we see on Discovery Channel's popular series Storm Chasers.
4. Huh! even I can forecast weather by looking out of the window
At times we all say that we can forecast the weather just by looking out of the window. 'Mets' have studied weather science and have also professionally researched and developed a technology to understand the weather phenomenon better than most of us. They can help us plan our day better. They can also tell us if it's going to rain on a sunny day. P.S. Thanks to meteorologists.
5. I will just learn at the equation read by ‘mets’
The equations of weather are much more complex than we think. There is applied physics, differential equation and calculus which goes in to the study of atmosphere.