A storm chaser is a meteorological researcher who works on the field, very much in the center of all the action.
When you become a storm chaser, you will travel the country looking for storms, and reporting their activity to weather authorities.
The information gathered by storm chasers helps weather bureaus to give accurate forecasts and warnings.
Storm chasers also conduct research to improve future storm detection and weather forecasting.
There are many storm chasers out there that do this work as a hobby and do not get paid for their findings.
Others are paid scientists and researchers who complete field work and will later compile reports and publish their research.
Storm chasing has become popular, so much so that you can actually go on a tour to learn about how this process works.
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Education Requirements to Become a Storm Chaser
If you want to become a storm chaser for a hobby, get in contact with the national weather service to find out about a short course called SkyWarn.
This will teach you the basics of storm watching, such as how to predict storm activity, how to measure statistics, and also how to keep yourself safe.
Learning how to use a radio is also important.
If you want to work as a storm chaser for your profession, it’s important to note that most people in this vocation don’t make a lot of money.
Some people do become a storm chaser full time, they sell date, photos, and video recordings to media agencies to make their income.
They have to invest a lot of what they make into travel, equipment, and legal costs.
If there are no storms, they don’t make any money.
The average salary for this kind of storm chaser is $18,000 a year.
Many storm chasers will support themselves with a second job, or will only work as a storm chaser seasonally.
Other storm chasers are actually meteorologists who chase storms as a part of a research project, or as a part of a larger job description.
For instance, they may teach at a college, or work for the weather service, and spend a few months a year chasing storms and collecting data.
To become a meteorologist, you will need to complete a four year bachelor’s degree in science, followed by a postgraduate degree in meteorology.
Storm Chaser Job Description
When you become a storm chaser, you will be hunting down severe weather patterns.
Usually, you will start with a report that severe conditions are expected in a particular area.
Most often with a team and specialized equipment, you’ll head out to the site and try and reach the storm.
This involves predicting its behavior and direction.
At the site of the storm, there are many things a storm chaser might do.
They may set up meteorological equipment to take various readings and data.
They might take video and photographs of the storm.
They will usually report to authorities via radio the severity and direction of the storm from the ground, so as any due warnings can be given.
Here are some of the duties of a storm chaser:
Monitoring weather forecasts
Locating and following storms
Setting up meteorological testing equipment
Collecting data
Analyzing data and writing reports
Writing articles
Taking Photography and video of storms
Selling photography and video to media agencies
Storm Chaser Salary and Career Path
How you become a storm chaser will determine your career path.
For instance, a hobbyist will often start out work as an assistant to a researcher or experienced storm chaser.
Many hobbyists have other jobs, and only spend a few months of the year chasing storms.
A meteorologist will spend much time at college and completing research before they enter the field.
They may work for the National Weather Service, a college, or a private weather firm.
Like hobbyists, they will only spend a small fraction of their time actually on the field, and will likely have many other research projects on the go at the same time.
A storm chaser makes a median salary of $18,000 a year, mostly from selling data, video, and photography they take.
However a meteorologist makes far more than this, and are usually paid a salary by an employer.
There are many similar roles that you might move on to as a storm chaser, or complete in conjunction with this job:
Meteorologist
Geologist
Photographer
Videographer
Scientific Researcher
If you’re looking for a very exciting job that will get your adrenaline pumping, then you might like to become a storm chaser.
There are not many paid opportunities in this field, and most are self-employed, so it is definitely an area you want to get into for the love of the chase, and not for the compensation.
what classes do you have to take in high school to get into Arizona state university
Look at the entrance requirements for the university you are interested in.
Storm chasers are important because we need them to document storms on their intensity, location, date, where they rank in history, and to give local meteorologists info on the storms so they can warn people of any danger.
Storm chasers typically need specialized vehicles equipped with weather monitoring instruments such as radar, GPS, and various meteorological sensors. They also require communication devices to stay in touch with their team and meteorologists. In addition, protective gear such as helmets, safety belts, and emergency supplies like food and water are essential for their safety in extreme weather conditions.
If you are teaching classes at a university, you will have to get your degree. If you are starting your own classes, you do not really need any certification.
b/c we will need to know info bout it like how fast how big and ext. also to give warnings to others around the specific place.
You can take dental assistant classes at Nashville University. This is a fairly large university that offers many dental related classes, so they will have the classes you need to take.
The National Weather Service and television stations often depend on storm chasers. Storm chasers converge on the Great Plains, cameras and video recorders in hand, eager to capture the drama and beauty of severe weather-producing clouds. The tornado was estimated by some storm chasers to be anywhere from a half-mile to a mile wide. As one of the Air Force's early storm chasers in the 1950s, he learned plenty about the destructive power of hurricanes.
none!
There is an online college called clayton university that can answer this. I want to take their classes.
You can take dental assistant classes at Nashville University. This is a fairly large university that offers many dental related classes, so they will have the classes you need to take.
it is a really hard to earn a living off storm chasing. if you need new camera equipment you spend around 1,000 dollars. you have to pitch in money for hotels and motels when you travel to different states to catch a tornado. you have to drive lots of miles which you end up