Climatologist

A blizzard that drops 2 feet of snow. A heat wave that bakes the pavement. A tornado that destroys homes and highways. The weather can do extraordinary things.

Climatologists, however, don’t forecast weather. That’s what Meteorologists do. Instead, Climatologists study and analyze climate.

Think of it this way: While Meteorologists predict short-term weather events, Climatologists study long-term weather patterns and trends. Instead of, “It’s going to rain tomorrow,” you’re in charge of information like, “It’s hotter in the South than in the North.”

A Scientist who uses information about the past to make predictions about the future, you rely heavily on technology, including satellites and radar; data, about temperature, barometric pressure, wind speed and humidity; and physical samples, including ancient mud and ice cores, which contain chemical clues about the weather in previous decades, centuries and millennia.

Because they can have a significant impact on climate, you also pay close attention to oceans — their temperatures, depths, currents and salinity are of special interest — and volcanoes, which can alter the atmosphere when they erupt.

More important than what you do, however, is why you do it. Although “weather” can impact your weekend plans, “climate” — the prevailing weather conditions in a geographic area — can impact everything from food production and wildlife survival to energy usage, health and even life expectancy. The chief Spokesperson for global warming and climate change, you’re therefore in charge of predictive information that impacts industries as diverse as agriculture, building and medicine. (Oh, and also humanity’s survival!)