CAREERS IN METEOROLOGY
What is Meteorology?
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. It is essentially an inter-disciplinary science because the atmosphere, land and ocean constitute an integrated system. The three basic aspects of meteorology are observation, understanding and prediction of weather.
Weather information and forecasts are of vital importance to many activities like agriculture, aviation, shipping, fisheries, tourism, defense, industrial projects, water management and disaster mitigation.
Yes a meteorologist is that important.
Who is a meteorologist?
It is a person with specialized education, using scientific principles to explain, understand, observe or forecast the earth’s atmospheric phenomena and/or how the atmosphere affects the earth and life on the planet.
Many meteorologists also obtain degrees in fields such as chemistry, mathematics, electrical or computer engineering, or other branches of the physical science and then become involved in studying the atmosphere.
When the public hears the word “meteorologist”, they often think of the person on TV presenting the forecast. Many weather-casters are only weather reporters mostly from the field of journalism, some without any meteorological training.
Is Meteorology a fulfilling career?
Meteorology was ranked 6th in the top 10 best jobs in the U.S in the year 2011.Ahead of Biologist, historian, audiologist (Diagnoses and treats hearing problems) and dental hygienist.
The most fascinating thing about this field is that you can be involved at many levels ranging from taking observations to working on high end theoretical problems on supercomputers. With a high range of employment opportunities within many government agencies, the military, National and county governments, universities, broadcasting stations, private industry e.g. insurance firms, engineering consulting firms or be a self-employed consultant.
Is Meteorology the career for you?
Any career choice one makes depends entirely on knowing if you are enjoying the type of work you are doing.
To know if meteorology is the career for you to pursue you need to ask yourself a couple of questions. Here are some of them;
- Are you the curious type, about the physical world around you? Why it is the way it is? Tried to make your own weather observations and predictions?
- Would you like to work in a field of science that has many applications in human affairs?
- Are you intrigued by the concept of using mathematics as a language to describe things that happen in the natural world? Do you enjoy working with computers?
- Do you enjoy and do well in my math, physics, chemistry and computer courses?
- Are you dynamic and open to change, working in a field where developments occur at a blistering speed?
If your answer to these questions is yes then you just found yourself the career of your dreams.
Employment opportunities
Meteorologists are working all over the world with increase in demand of their services.
Not all meteorologists are working for National weather service (Kenya meteorological services) and TV stations. These are just two groups with whom the public sector has most contact. Many other organizations employ people with meteorological training including Engineering and environmental firms, private weather forecasters and consultants and many other government agencies like the military and more so in the rapidly growing private sector.
Most recent demand coming from the insurance industry, where one gets to work as a forensic meteorologist. Forensic meteorologist main work is to collect, interpret and analyze atmospheric data in support of insurance fraud claim investigations, civil and criminal trials, and environmental regulatory actions.
The forensic meteorologist may be employed directly by an insurance firm, the lawyers for either the plaintiff or defendant in a case or even, may be appointed by the court itself. Regardless of the employing party, it is not the role of the meteorologist to be an advocate for either side in a dispute, but to assist the judge and/or jury in understanding the often complex facts in a case so that they may reach an appropriate verdict.
Meteorologists are employed at colleges and universities as instructors’ researchers, or professors.
With Recent advances in satellite and computer technology which have led to significant progress in meteorology. Our knowledge of the weather is, however, still incomplete.
Your career in one among the best professions starts today.
References
www.sky-fire.tv/careers
www.AmetSoc.org/AMS.
www.careercast.com
Written by
Muriithi Chris
Deputy Secretary General ~ NUMA
