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to Career in meteorology and hydrology
by
Ms. Kathy-Ann Caesar, Meteorologist by the Caribbean
Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH). (The
article was originally published in "The Advisory", The 35th Anniversary
Edition of the CIMH, 2002.)
We
in the Meteorological fraternity are often approached by persons inquiring into
the qualifications needed to enter the field of Meteorology. Often their
questions focus on the career opportunities in this field and especially those
available in the Caribbean. The following are answers to possible questions that
may be posed:
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Q. What
is Meteorology about?
A.
Meteorology is a branch of science that deals with the atmosphere of a
planet particularly that of the earth, the most important application of which
is the analysis and prediction of weather.
Q
How
do I enter the field of Meteorology in the Caribbean
A.
In most Caribbean territories, Meteorology falls under the realm of
Government services and is in most cases directly related to Aviation and public
weather forecasting.
There is a growing number of
individuals embarking upon a Meteorology degree directly, either at the
University of the West Indies (UWI),
Cave Hill Barbados, or some other college in the United States or elsewhere.
Q
What
jobs are there in the Meteorological services?
A.
The entry level in the Meteorological service
is usually as Meteorological Observers (Meteorological Technicians), who monitor
and report on daily weather phenomena.
At this level, one gains practical experience in weather observations, as
well as basic experience in instrument maintenance.
The next level is the specialized
Meteorological Technicians, whose jobs range from Instrument Technician to
Climatology and Agrometeorology Technicians. Beyond the Meteorological
Technicians are the non-degree Weather Forecasters, and the Meteorologists, who
are personnel with University level (first) degrees in Meteorology.
Note that all these are highly skilled and specialized areas in the
service. One who has
gone through the ranks, acquires experience in weather observations and
forecasting, which cannot be obtained in the classroom.
Q.
What
are the entry-level requirements?
A.
The requirements for entry into the Meteorological Services of the
Caribbean territories depend on the school leaving requirements for entry into
the various Government Services. However, most of the regional Services of
the English speaking Caribbean follow the recommendations of CIMH, which
are that a prospective candidate should have at least four CXC or GCE ‘O’
level subjects that should include English Language, Mathematics and Physics.
The minimum
requirement for entry to the Meteorological degree program at UWI, Cave Hill is
at least 5 CXC or GCE ‘O’ level subjects.
The subjects should include English, Mathematics and an approved
Laboratory science subject or Additional Mathematics. Please consult the UWI
Cave Hill Campus, Faculty of Science and Technology Handbook for more detailed
information.
Q
Why
Physics and Mathematics and not Geography?
A.
In secondary schools, Meteorology as a topic generally falls under the
subject of Geography. As a subject
on its own Meteorology is the study of the atmospheric behavior, which is
determined by the basic laws of physics, expressed in terms of mathematical
functions. The growth of technology
in Meteorology further emphasizes the roles of
Physics and Mathematics in the science.
New recommendations by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO),
re-emphasizes the need for Mathematics, and Physics when entering the
Meteorological and Hydrological services.
Q.
How
long does it take to attain a degree?
A.
A degree programme at UWI normally takes three years.
This holds whether you enter the degree program on your own or entered
through the Meteorological Services.
Q.
What
areas of study are covered in the degree programme?
A.
Under the UWI/CIMH Meteorology curriculum there are various
meteorological and applied meteorological topics.
These subjects are supported by course work in calculus, differential
equations, vector analysis, computer science, and statistics.
In addition, subjects such as oceanography and chemistry may be
introduced.
Q.
What
are my career opportunities in Meteorology?
A.
Admittedly, the opportunities in the Caribbean are limited but not as
much as one would think.
The primary function of the Meteorological services in the Caribbean has
always been to provide information for aviation.
However, the portfolios of the services are fast changing to include
applied meteorological topics such as Climatology, Agro meteorology and
Hydrometeorology. These fields
provide valuable data for vital agencies in agriculture, water resources,
insurance, shipping, architecture, tourism, and others, which influence our
daily lives.
Outside of the weather services there is the possibility of entry into
the teaching fraternity. Based on the vast education and additional training, a
meteorological graduate could make a formidable addition to any academic
institution. Meteorology is seldom, if ever, taught as a stand-alone subject at
the elementary and secondary school levels. Most often it is integrated into the
general science curriculum or presented as part of physics, earth sciences, or
general science courses. Therefore,
teaching would be a viable career opportunity for the meteorological graduate to
consider, since in the Caribbean there is a great need for science and
mathematics teachers.
If one desires to enter the area of teaching at the university level,
then at least a Master of Science degree will be needed to fulfill this goal.
Attaining a Master’s degree will entail research work for which the scope of
Meteorological topics runs the gamut, from basic to applied themes, as well as
from local to global scale topics. The
Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) is the agency
responsible for training in the science of Meteorology, Hydrology and other
related science in the English speaking Caribbean.
The employment opportunities, while not abundant, are varied.
They include technician assistants whose duties are weather observations;
data assimilation and entry; technicians who service meteorological instruments
and academic staff who specialize in teaching and research in areas such as Tropical, Synoptic, Physical, Dynamical,
Radar, Satellite and
Aviation Meteorology; Hydrology;
Climatology and Agrometeorology.
The other possible growing area of employment of Meteorology graduates is
in the area of Media weathercasting.
Beware, in the Caribbean this is still a fledgling field but the
potential for growth is encouraging as new media houses open to compete with
those which are usually government-run facilities.
Q.
What
advice would you give to young weather enthusiasts coming out of high school?
A.
Do not be side tracked by naysayers
who down cry meteorology as a rewarding field.
As with all other subject areas the field requires perseverance in order
to succeed. But the rewards are endless.
The field is ever changing and growing both in scope and technology.
The few areas of interest covered in this article only scratch the
surface. In the Caribbean there is still much to be learnt and refined
in the science of Meteorology, particularly on the local scale.
The field of Meteorology is very cooperative worldwide; that is, there is
generally a free and fair exchange of information within the field. Also the
opportunity for travel to various countries will tend to increase as ‘globalisation’
evolves.
Note that weather influences all aspects of
living and will continue always to be important.
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