As a Principal Meteorologist with 10 years working experience in the government sector, my job responsibilities two main categories of Forecasting and Research.
In weather forecasting, common tasks include:
- Basic real time observation of weather parameters;
- Collecting data from satellite images, radar, remote sensors and weather stations across the country;
- Measuring factors such as air pressure, temperature and humidity at various atmospheric levels;
- Analyzing and presenting this information to customers in the form of weather briefings/bulletins;
- Coding weather reports for transmission over international networks;
- Applying physical and mathematical relationships and sophisticated computer models to make short and long-range weather forecasts;
- Liaising with colleagues and clients from around the country and worldwide.
- Supervision of junior staff and students on attachment to the agency
- In research, work that may be carried out includes:
- Investigating subjects such as airflow in the lowest kilometer of the atmosphere, the physics of clouds and precipitation, or global climate change;
- Developing and improving numerical and computer models to predict atmospheric processes and improve the accuracy of forecasts;
- Monitoring climate variability and change;
- Researching seasonal forecasting, ocean forecasting and climate prediction;
- Monitoring and investigating changes in the stratosphere (10-50km above the Earth), including the ozone layer;
- Applying the results of research in order, for example, to give flood warnings or estimate the likely effects of global warming.
