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A
Job To Love
Imagine interviewing people in your
home community. You ask people to describe
the water levels, the height of grasses,
when birds come back to nest in the
spring, and when the ice freezes in
the fall. You'll use this data along
with empirical data such as precipitation
levels and temperature to submit a status
report on climate to the government.
In the next year, you'll also interview
people in Alaska and Greenland to determine
the status of climate around the globe.
Changes in climate are hard to understand
and many people can be affected by climate
change. It's your job to put together
the pieces of this puzzle in a clear
and understandable way.
Climate change specialists study
the changes in weather over time. They
do this by looking at winds, temperatures,
lightning, sunshine, and rainfall. This
information helps to make sense of climate
trends and changes, and allows specialists
to see how human activity affects the
weather. They work outdoors as well
as in offices and laboratories, either
in teams or by themselves. Many climate
change specialists live in their home
communities. Specifically, Aboriginal
climate change specialists work with
Elders and locals to understand how
changes in weather affect people, traditional
lands, and migration patterns of birds
and animals.
Climate change specialists get to study
some pretty amazing things, but it can
be frustrating when the general public
doesn't see the importance of climate
issues. People, governments, and businesses
might not always listen to your recommendations
on how to adapt to climate change. Also,
as a climate change specialist, you'll
work outside in all kinds of weather
conditions and travel to remote locations,
both overnight and on weekends. On the
other hand, by looking at how we can
adapt to and lessen the impacts of climate
change, you will have a positive impact
on protecting the environment.
Job
Description
Climate change specialists analyze wind,
rainfall, sunshine, temperature records,
and emissions to understand how climate
is changing and how changes in climate
can affect the environment and humans.
For example, this job might involve
studying climate to understand if there
will be increased lightning storms,
which could lead to an increase in forest
fires. Climate change specialists work
for research institutions, universities,
Environment Canada, the military, non-governmental
environmental organizations, and the
government. Some climate change specialists
are self-employed.
Job
Duties
- Research
the causes and effects of weather,
climate, and the atmosphere
- Conduct
studies to evaluate changes in climate
- Monitor
weather, including wind speed, temperature,
and precipitation
- Create
plans to measure and reduce greenhouse
gas emissions
- Create
mathematical computer models of
weather and climate
- Use
your information to help create
environmental policies on smog and
hazardous pollutants
- Make
scientific presentations, and publish
reports and articles for specialists
and the general public
Fact
About 11 per cent of all carbon dioxide
(C02) emissions in Canada comes from
cars. This is more than rail, marine,
and air transportation combined. Increased
levels of C02 threaten to enhance
the atmosphere's natural greenhouse
effect.
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High
school courses that will prepare you
for this job include chemistry, physics,
math, geography, and English. Aboriginal
studies, history, and languages will
prepare you for working in a multi-cultural
setting. Talk to your career or academic
counsellor about options such as biology,
environment and resource management,
and computers.
The minimum education requirement for
this job is a bachelor's degree in geology,
geochemistry, physics, geophysics, meteorology
or a related discipline. A master's
degree will make you more competitive
in the job market and make it easier
to get a job and negotiate your salary.
Before entering the workforce, climate
change specialists might require training
in:
- Consensus
building
- Project
management
- Environmental
legislation and regulations
Look
into specific high school prerequisites
set by the college or university you
would like to attend.
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Climate
change specialists with a university
degree make an average of $47,000.00
per year.
Climate change specialists with a
post-graduate degree make an average
of $58,000.00 per year.
Climate change specialists with several
years of experience and education
make an average of $72,000.00 per
year.
Financial Assistance
In addition to the general scholarship
tips listed in the BUILD MY CAREER
section, the following award is specific
to climate change specialists:
Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic
Society
A $500.00 undergraduate scholarship
is awarded to a final year student.
Contact: Canadian Meteorological and
Oceanographic Society
Box 3211, Station D
Ottawa, ON
K1P 6H7
Telephone: (613) 991-0151
Fax: (613) 993-4658
email: Cmos@meds-sdmm.dof-mpo.gc.ca
website: www.cmos.ca
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Some
of the best knowledge you'll gain
for this job will come from listening
to the stories and wisdom of your
relations. Ask your Elders how they
predict the weather from the shape
of the clouds and the direction of
the wind. What signs do they look
for to see how climate changes affect
natural resources in your community?
Also, join your family on camping
trips because the time you spend outdoors
will make your studies easier and
will appeal to employers.
Relate to people in similar jobs:
- Meteorologist
- Remote
sensing technologist
Relate
and interact with climate change specialists.
Ask them what they like about their
jobs, and how you should get started.
Clean Air Strategic Alliance (CASA)
10035 –108 Street NW, Floor 10
Edmonton, AB
T5J 3E1
Telephone: (780) 427-9793
Fax: (780) 422-3127
email: casa@casahome.org
website: www.casahome.org
Canadian Foundation for Climate
and Atmospheric Sciences (CFCAS)/
Fondation canadienne pour les sciences
du climat et de l’atmosphère
(FCSCA) 350 Sparks Street, Suit
901
Ottawa, ON
K1R 7S8
Telephone: (613) 238-2223
Fax: (613) 238-2227
email: lharvey@cfcas.org
website: www.cfcas.org
Relate to other students. There are
Aboriginal student associations and
resource centres at most universities.
Visit these centres to find out what
they have to offer. Also, look into
community, friendship, and multi-cultural
centres.
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