Comments on: Is Your Local TV Weatherperson a Meteorologist? Do They Understand Climate Science?

By: Brian Davis

Brian Davis — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 20:22:54 +0000

A great and interesting article Dan. I would like to what is said here for the public concerning what is a Meteorologist or “educated science person” versus who isn’t. The Seal of approval or CBM is a great place to start, but really the degree or college education should serve as who is or is not qualified. I consider myself a meteorologist but only after going to school for 4 years Meteorology and obtaining a bachelor’s degree. I know you have a B.S. in Meteorology and Masters in Geo/Earth Science and even if you had no seal or CBM, there would be no doubt that you were qualified! I would tell people to look at the Bio’s listed on just about every TV news site in the country and check the school/experience credentials of that particular weather person if they are really concerned about it. Ok, got to get back to the books now, working on that master’s degree as well, HELP!!
(Brian Davis AMS/NWA Sealed Meteorologist)

By: Brian Davis

Brian Davis — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 20:17:43 +0000

A great and interesting article Dan. I would like to what is said here for the public concerning what is a Meteorologist or “educated science person” versus who isn’t. The Seal of approval or CBM is a great place to start, but really the degree or college education should serve as who is or is not qualified. I consider myself a meteorologist but only after going to school for 4 years Meteorology and obtaining a bachelor’s degree. I know you have a B.S. in Meteorology and Masters in Geo/Earth Science and even if you had no seal, there would be no doubt that you were qualified! I would tell people to look at the Bio’s listed on just about every TV news site in the country and check the school/experience credentials of that particular weather person if they are really concerned about it. Ok, got to get back to the books now, working on that master’s degree as well, HELP!!
(Brian Davis AMS/NWA Sealed Meteorologist)

By: MJ

MJ — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 10:17:57 +0000

Nice explination and nice site (just found it through twitter). Curious if you think the AMS should create a certification for people who have both meteorology and climatology skills?

By: Dan Satterfield

Dan Satterfield — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:45:37 +0000

That’s just it…The need to know comes down to someone who needs to KNOW HOW to know…

By: Matt G.

Matt G. — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:34:43 +0000

I had begun to suspect this anyway . . . but glad you came out and said it – they are two different sciences. Although I’m not planning to work on TV . . . I’m going to try to take my weather education as far as I can (Ph. D. may sound like a lofty goal, and it is, but I figure, if you’re gonna’ go, go all out) . . . even after I’ve managed to worm my way into the working world of weather forecasting. For now I just tell all my friends (who know i’m somewhat obsessive with weather) that I’m really not qualified to speak about climate change and really am just as confused as the average person. And for public relations reasons, if I was on TV (which hopefully I’ll never be) . . . I wouldn’t touch the subject with a ten foot pole! Kudos to you though for doing the hard research and being outspoken about your findings.

By: Nick

Nick — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 05:03:50 +0000

Honestly Dan… I don’t need the guy telling me whether I should wear a sweater or not in the morning suffering through 3 semesters of calculus. I just need to know.