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A
Job To Love
Picture yourself standing outside on
a warm summer day. Surveying the sky
and a buildup of clouds, you prepare
a weather balloon. Sending it up into
the air, you predict the data that it
will obtain for you. When you return
to your office, the data has already
been transmitted from the balloon. As
it turns out, your forecast is correct:
A tornado is on its way. As a meteorologist,
it's your job to warn people about it,
track its movements, and explain its
cause. Even though you feel a little
anxious, you're excited at the same
time, because you know that your job
matters to people.
Meteorologists
study the weather and make weather
forecasts. They work as part of a
team in laboratories and in the outdoors.
Many Aboriginal meteorologists live
where they grew up, studying the different
ways that weather affects the environment
and their communities.
Weather
can be fascinating, but it never stops.
As a meteorologist, you'll work long,
tiring hours to keep up with weather
information. There are times when
you'll feel helpless—you can
warn people to prepare themselves
for a really bad storm, but the storm
will still cause a lot of damage.
Despite that, as a meteorologist you
play an important role in protecting
people, animals, and property from
weather-related dangers.
Job
Description
Meteorologists study the Earth's atmosphere
to forecast weather and to provide weather-consulting
services. For example, a meteorologist
might study droughts to help the agriculture
industry plan its planting and harvesting
season. Meteorologists work for the
media, environmental agencies, private
consulting companies, Environment Canada,
the military, and the government. Other
meteorologists are self-employed.
Job
Duties
- Analyse
data from weather stations, computer
models, and radar and satellite
imagery
- Provide
weather forecasts and reports to
the general public through media
like radio, television, newspapers,
and the Internet
- Analyse
the impact of industrial projects
and human activity on air quality
and climate; develop appropriate
strategies for dealing with these
impacts
- Study
the forces affecting the Earth's
atmosphere and explore the atmosphere's
effects on light, sound, and radio
waves
- Make
scientific presentations and publish
reports for specialists and the
general public
Fact
Scientists warn us that global warming
could lead to the following consequences
in Canada:
- More
severe weather including droughts,
winter storms, and tornadoes
- Flooding
and erosion in coastal regions
- A
greater risk of pests, diseases,
and fires that will affect forests
and farms
- Damage
to our water sources
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High
school courses that will prepare you
for this job include math, biology,
chemistry, physics, 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 information
technology, geography, and environment
and resources management.
The
minimum education requirement for
a meteorologist is a bachelor's degree
in meteorology, physical, chemical
or applied sciences. Advanced degrees
will make you more competitive in
the job market and make it easier
for you to get a job and negotiate
your salary.
Look into specific high school prerequisites
set by the college or university you
would like to attend.
Before entering the workforce,
meteorologists might require training
in:
- Field
sampling
- Global
Positioning Systems (GPS) usage
- Map
and compass usage
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Meteorologists
with a university degree make an average
of $47,000.00 per year.
Meteorologists
with a graduate degree make an average
of $58,000.00 per year.
Meteorologists
with several years' 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 awards are
specific to meteorologists:
CASTS
scholarships for Canadian Aboriginal
students studying science Contact:
CASTS Scholarship Committee
Treaty 7 Tribal Council
Suite 310-6940 Fisher Road SE
Calgary, AB
T2H 0W3
Telephone: (403) 258-1775
Fax: (403) 258-1811
email: casts@mail1.treaty7.org
website: www.casts.ca
Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic
Society
$500.00 undergraduate scholarship
for 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.meds-sdmm.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/cmos/
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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 changes
in weather have affected their use
of the land, water, and other natural
resources. Join your family on camping
trips, and learn how your Elders predict
the weather by analyzing the sky.
The time you spend outdoors will make
your studies easier and your experience
with the natural world will appeal
to employers.
Relate to people in similar jobs:
- Climatologist
- Remote
sensing specialist
Relate
and interact with meteorologists.
Ask them what they like about their
jobs, and how you should get started.
Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic
Society/ La Société
de météorologie et d'océanographie
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
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 with 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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