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Meteorological Technician |
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Description Busily monitoring weather systems, meterological technicians are fascinated by the weather. They are responsible for performing tests to monitor the weather and releasing this information to the public. Meteorological technicians work alongside meteorologists, assisting these scientists who study information on air pressure, pollution, temperature, humidity, and wind velocity. Meteorological technicians monitor weather systems, and collect, evaluate, and release their findings to public and private facilities, which include the National Weather Service, airport personnel, the Federal Aviation Administration, air traffic controllers, private and public companies, industries, environmental watchdog groups, and television and radio stations. Obviously, the weather affects much more than how many layers you'll need to pack in that beach bag. Meteorological technicians know this; they work in a number of areas to try to understand the unpredictable and uncontrollable weather here on Earth. That is why they specialize in one of several areas. Weather surface observers use instruments to measure pressure, temperature, humidity, wind, precipitation, and clouds, while aerological technicians use gas-filled balloons, electronic equipment, radio receivers and computers to measure atmospheric conditions up to a height of 75 miles. Meteorological inspectors travel to different observation sites to service or repair weather-reading equipment. As observant technicians, they are required to maintain a continuous weather watch from wherever they are stationed. They monitor and evaluate the wind, sky condition, present weather, temperature/dew point, altimeter, snow depth, and precipitation, and then pass along their findings to scientists working in the weather center or out of other locations, via phone, computer, or other technical device. The scientists can then make predictions, forecasts, and evaluate things like environmental health and ozone depletion. Weather forecasting depends on accurate readings taken by technicians. If someone makes even small mistake somewhere along the line, it can seriously throw off the final interpretation. Meteorological technicians are therefore careful, accurate, and methodical people who are curious about the weather in all its forms. |
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Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, 2002, http://www.bls.gov/oes/2002/oes_nat.htm |
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