Becoming a Climate Scientist

More about the book

This hands-on guide offers an insightful look into a career as a climate scientist, drawing from the experiences of a leading researcher studying Arctic permafrost. It serves as essential reading for anyone considering this timely profession. Readers are invited to go behind the scenes and gain mentorship from top experts, discovering what it truly takes to succeed in this field. With the urgency of accurate climate science growing, the demand for skilled professionals is on the rise—from universities seeking cutting-edge research to militaries concerned about national security and governments needing reliable data for policy reform. Climate scientists engage in field research and utilize complex algorithms on supercomputers to forecast our planet's changing climate. The narrative follows acclaimed Outside magazine editor Kyle Dickman as he shadows climate scientist Cathy Wilson and her team in Alaska's tundra and Los Alamos, NM. Readers will learn how these scientists measure snowfall, assess permafrost thawing, and determine soil water content with remarkable precision. The book illustrates how even the growth of a single shrub can impact an entire ecosystem and how predictive models can forecast the future of our rapidly changing world, showcasing the highest level of expertise in this vital profession.