Exclusive Interview
Meet a Meteorologist

Weekly Reader sat down with Aviation Meteorologist Christopher Urban. A meteorologist is a person who studies weather. Christopher works at Weather Services International (WSI) in Andover, Massachusetts. He forecasts weather for pilots all over the world. WR talked to Christopher about his job.

What is a typical day like for you?
I first find out the weather for all of the U.S. I want to give pilots and passengers the smoothest ride possible. I can help them stay away from bad weather by telling them how far above a storm they have to fly, or by giving them a different [path to fly]. Pilots trust me to tell them the best way to fly to avoid turbulence. Turbulence is caused by wind. It can make the airplane go up and down without the pilot having control over it.

I also draw maps for pilots on the computer. It is a guide for them when they want to stay away from the stormy weather.

What is the best part of your job?
I'm doing something I really enjoy. I learn something new every day. There are so many different things to understand about weather that you never know enough in this field. Weather is important in everyday life to everybody around the world. Look at what Hurricane Katrina did—it destroyed a whole city and changed the lives of so many people.

It's amazing to think that my weather forecast for pilots not only controls their lives, but the lives of hundreds of passengers on-board the airplane. It is my job to tell them where I expect the most dangerous weather to occur so they can avoid flying into it.

What is the worst part of your job?
It's a 24-hour a day, seven-day a week job. Weather happens all the time. So when you guys are celebrating holidays, I'm usually working and trying to protect the pilots and their passengers from flying into the stormy weather.

Why did you want to become a meteorologist?
The force of nature always interested me. For example, a lightning stroke can be hotter than the sun. That's unreal to imagine.