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Atmospheric scientists study the Earth’s atmosphere and its impact on life. They can specialize in meteorology, atmospheric chemistry, or other fields, and work in various settings such as news companies, government agencies, or laboratories.
An atmospheric scientist is an individual who studies the Earth’s atmosphere, which is the layer of gases that surrounds the planet and is essential for the existence of all life on Earth. Some atmospheric scientists may also study the atmospheres of other planets, but because of its relevance to human life, Earth’s atmosphere is a much more common object of study. Atmospheric science is actually a very broad field that encompasses many other fields; therefore, an atmospheric scientist can be a meteorologist, climatologist, atmospheric physicist, or any other type of scientist. The actual work done in the atmospheric sciences varies significantly and can range from weather forecasting to research aimed at stopping the degradation of the Earth’s atmosphere.
The atmospheric scientist’s best-known and most public role is in the field of meteorology. A meteorologist is an atmospheric scientist who usually, but not exclusively, focuses on atmospheric phenomena such as weather. Meteorology is a popular field because most news outlets employ meteorologists for forecasting purposes; therefore, meteorologists are commonly seen on television. Governments and companies dependent on or based on atmospheric phenomena usually hire meteorologists as well.
Earth’s atmosphere and the atmospheres of other planets are composed of mixtures of a variety of gases that interact with each other and are sensitive to a variety of chemical, magnetic, and other types of stimuli. As such, an atmospheric scientist may choose to work primarily in atmospheric chemistry. A particularly important focus of atmospheric chemistry is the interaction between synthetic chemicals and the gases in the atmosphere. Many gases produced through human actions, such as burning fossil fuels or waste, react with chemicals already present in the atmosphere or are added to the atmosphere. This could drastically affect Earth because these chemical changes in the atmosphere are capable of causing significant climate change.
An atmospheric scientist may find work in a variety of scientific, commercial or industrial settings. News companies, airports, and government agencies often require a single atmospheric scientist or a team of atmospheric scientists for weather forecasting purposes. Laboratories and companies focused on researching and improving air quality may employ an atmospheric scientist to monitor air quality and other atmospheric conditions. These professionals usually work in laboratories or offices or may carry out field work. Some, for example, fly in and around hurricanes, tornadoes and other weather phenomena to take measurements and collect data.
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