There's more to meteorology than forecasting Career focus: Meteorology

Career Focus/Meteorology: Living as we do on a small, rainy, windswept island on the edge of the continent, where it never really snows enough to be useful (i.e. get you off school/work) and the sun only shines for one week out of 52, if you're lucky, the weather can be something of a controversial, if not quite hot, topic of conversation, writes Olivia Kelly

If your interest extends beyond the casual observation of how miserably grey it is, again, and your blood races at the thought of anti-cyclones and the highs and lows of pressures and fronts, then a career in meteorology might be for you.

Basically a meteorologist is someone who studies the weather and atmosphere. The job involves investigation and research into the physical nature of the laws governing air movement, pressure, and temperature changes to determine the causes which bring about the various atmospheric conditions.

Meteorologists are probably best known as weather forecasters, although this is just one area of the job. "By and large, the terms are interchangeable," Joe Bourke, principal meteorological officer with Met Éireann, says. "However, strictly speaking, a weather forecaster is solely involved in producing weather forecasts. Met Éireann staff in the forecasting offices are all fully trained meteorologists, with the capacity to become involved in the other areas of the service such as climatology and research."

The various duties of a meteorologist can include research into climatology, marine meteorology, the development of new forecasting models and techniques, research use of weather satellite and radar data, development of computer graphics and plotting systems, developing and providing training for new recruits, environmental monitoring, dealing with legal and insurance queries, being an expert witness in court cases, general administration and, of course, weather forecasting.

The weather has an impact on a huge amount of daily activities, in business and leisure, so the information supplied by meteorologists can be vitally important to a lot of people. Farmers use forecasts to know when to harvest, for blight warnings or when to spray crops. Sea area forecasts and gale warnings are essential to fishermen and sailors. The emergency services are interested in severe weather alerts. Sporting events can depend on the forecast and the road authorities use forecasts to know when to grit roads.

"The work is mainly office based," Bourke says, "but you might have to travel to attend a court case for instance." Meteorologists may be called to give expert evidence on the weather conditions at the time of a death or a car crash and they can help pathologists in assessing the time of death of a victim.

The job can also lead to travel further afield. "We aspire to have people travel to other meteorological offices, some go to France for a couple of weeks or Belfast."

Meteorologists tend to specialise in different areas of research or stay in the forecasting branch. Broadcasting the forecasts is also part of the job. "You will inevitably become involved in broadcasting," Bourke says. "Virtually everybody does the radio forecast at some time." For the TV work you need to be assigned to the team that is selected in conjunction with RTÉ.

There is currently no meteorology degree available in the State, although Met Éireann is in the process of "coming to an arrangement" with an Irish university to introduce either a undergrad or postgrad degree. Graduates with a first- or second-class honours degree in either maths, physics or mathematical physics can apply to Met Éireann, which then provides the metrological training. "Staff spend six months training in the British Met Office and Met Éireann always supports staff who wish to increase their qualifications."

A maths and science aptitude is essential for the job.