A CAREER IN METEOROLOGY WEATHER CLIMATE WATER CLIMATE WEATHER WMO-No. 1126 Produced with the generous support of the Government of Canada. WMO-No. 1126 © World Meteorological Organization, 2006, 2014, 2017 The right of publication in print, electronic and any other form and in any language is reserved by WMO. Short extracts from WMO publications may be reproduced without authorization, provided that the com- plete source is clearly indicated. Editorial correspondence and requests to publish, reproduce or translate this publication in part or in whole should be addressed to: Chairperson, Publications Board World Meteorological Organization (WMO) 7 bis, avenue de la Paix Tel.: +41 (0) 22 730 84 03 P.O. Box 2300 Fax: +41 (0) 22 730 81 17 CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] ISBN 978-92-63-11126-5 Cover images: Adobe Stock / Shutterstock.com / WMO NOTE The designations employed in WMO publications and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of WMO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by WMO in preference to others of a similar nature which are not mentioned or advertised. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in WMO publications with named authors are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect those of WMO or its Members. A CAREER IN METEOROLOGY WMO-No. 1126 1 A career in meteorology This book is a brief introduction to a career in meteorology. For more information about qualifications, training and opportunities, you are invited to consult your career adviser or your local or national weather service. For more information about the work of WMO, see the Organization’s homepage at public.wmo.int. A list of national weather services worldwide, including those with an Internet link, is available at http:// public.wmo.int/en/about-us/members. Publications offering an insight into the activities of meteorologists and climatologists include:WMO at a glance, the WMO Bulletin and MeteoWorld (print and Web versions). CONTENTS Foreword ........................................................................ 4 Towards a better world ............................................................ 6 Improving our well-being .......................................................... 8 Observing and forecasting the weather ............................................ 10 Engineering solutions ............................................................. 12 Turning data into products ......................................................... 14 Reaching people .................................................................. 16 Dealing with climate variability and change .......................................... 18 Making travel safer ................................................................ 20 Protecting lives and property ...................................................... 22 Protecting our health ............................................................. 24 Feeding the world ................................................................ 26 Managing freshwater resources ..................................................... 28 Harnessing energy ................................................................ 30 Enjoying our environment ......................................................... 32 The World Meteorological Organization ............................................. 34 3 FOREWORD For most people, the weather is an important part climate information continues to expand, means of their daily lives – something they talk about, that a career in meteorology is a viable option for something they prepare for. For others, like me, more people than ever before. weather is a passion that characterizes their entire professional lives. Our atmosphere is a fascinating Another reason that the opportunities are so great is system, so far as we know one that is unique in the that meteorologists can work in both the public and whole universe. We are at an optimal distance from private sectors. National Meteorological and Hydro- the Sun. We have water and oxygen for living and logical Services play the leading role in gathering an atmosphere that transfers heat from the tropics observations, making national and local forecasts, to the higher latitudes and water from the oceans and providing the warnings that they or another to the continents. Our atmosphere has the right national agency must deliver to the public when gas composition and protects us from ultraviolet storms or other dangerous events are expected. The radiation and meteorites. All this we can handle by private sector is growing rapidly in order to meet knowing the laws of physics and chemistry. The work the demand of particular customers and sectors for of a meteorologist is to make people safe from the customized forecasts and value-added information. dangerous manifestations of the Earth’s weather Both the public and private meteorological sectors and climate system. For people interested in such are becoming increasingly dynamic and exciting. matters, a career in meteorology could well be an attractive life choice. Meteorology is one of the most international branches of science. The weather and climate do Fortunately, the opportunities for working in meteo- not know any borders. Thus, meteorologists and rology have expanded as never before. The science atmospheric scientists work very closely together of weather and climate is advancing at a rapid clip, worldwide. A family atmosphere prevails among and our ability to put this science to practical use those specialists. for the benefit of people everywhere is getting better all the time. The fact that meteorology is Some meteorologists work as weather presenters both a science and a service, that it affects everyone on television. Others are employed in operational everywhere, and that the demand for weather and forecasting centres, where they run and interpret 4 sophisticated weather models. Still others serve need to become more resilient in the face of natural as advisers for the tourist sector, for farmers or hazards and climate impacts such as sea-level for aviation, shipping or land transport. Customs rise, floods and droughts. Meteorologists can be services and police agencies often call on meteo- proud of their role in helping people to protect rologists, as criminals and smugglers can become themselves more effectively and to build safer and more active when a rainstorm or dust cloud makes more productive societies. them less visible. Health and emergency services need meteorologists to inform them when weather Training and encouraging the next generation of conditions will lead to a rise in respiratory illnesses meteorologists is a major priority for the World or accidents. The air force, navy and army rely on Meteorological Organization (WMO). I hope you meteorologists to plan manoeuvres and to keep find some inspiration in the pages of this booklet. their people and equipment safe. The list is endless. Meteorologists also make an essential contribution to the big global issues addressed by the United Nations. Climate change is particularly important. Weather and climate science and services are mov- ing closer together, leading to seamless weather and climate forecasting. Changing weather conditions are linked to climate change, and climate change impacts and extreme weather events are very often becoming one and the same. Weather services also contribute to sustainable development and the United Nations 2030 Agenda. Storms and other weather and climate impacts can (Petteri Taalas) destroy lives and infrastructure, setting national Secretary-General development back by years. Many communities World Meteorological Organization 5 TOWARDS A BETTER WORLD Promoting sustainable development and environmental protection through governance and policymaking Nearly all areas of human activity are weather-, effort into monitoring, assessing and predicting climate- and water-sensitive. Of particular impor- these changes and helping policymakers develop tance is the impact of weather and climate fluctu- strategies for dealing with them. Hydrologists also ations on food production. Other areas, including play a vital role by studying the water cycle – the fisheries and forestry, energy and water resources continuous movement of water on, above and management, land, marine and aviation transport, below the surface of the Earth – and its impact on banking and insurance, construction and urban the distribution and supply of water. design, all benefit directly from services provided by meteorologists. The provision and application Exactly what meteorologists do depends upon of accurate and timely weather information, fore- local requirements and the structure of the national casts and warnings contribute to human well-being meteorological service. This brochure aims to give and are of considerable benefit to socioeconomic an insight into the nature and scope of work carried development and environmental protection. out by meteorologists. There is growing concern about the impacts on Meteorologists must not only understand weather, human societies of extreme events such as tropical climate and water but also be able to present the cyclones, floods, droughts and heatwaves. Some information