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Research and Careers in Atmospheric Sciences

Research and Careers in Atmospheric Sciences. UW Atmospheric Sciences Outreach. Weather vs. Climate. Weather Time scales up to 10 – 14 days Climate Time scales of 2 weeks – hundreds of years Think of climate as “ average weather ” over long periods of time. The Greenhouse Effect.

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Research and Careers in Atmospheric Sciences

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  1. Research and Careers in Atmospheric Sciences UW Atmospheric Sciences Outreach

  2. Weather vs. Climate • Weather • Time scales up to 10 – 14 days • Climate • Time scales of 2 weeks – hundreds of years • Think of climate as “average weather” over long periods of time

  3. The Greenhouse Effect • Trace gases in the atmosphere (water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, etc) absorb infrared radiation and re-emit it toward the surface. • As a results, the surface warms. • Increasing the amount of these greenhouse gases increases the temperature at the Earth’s surface.

  4. Careers in Atmospheric Sciences

  5. Government Policy Public Relations Software development Analysis Research Field Work / Obs Forecasting Teaching Consulting Broadcasting Academia Industry 04/26/10

  6. Careers in Research • Can conduct research at • Universities • Government Agencies • Private Companies There are many topics in atmospheric science that people research and apply including…

  7. Research topic: Climate • Climatology • Variability and patterns of climate • Climate modeling • Paleoclimate • Climate change (e.g. feedbacks and sensitivity)‏ • Global warming • Impacts (how different regions will be affected)‏ • Geoengineering

  8. Research topic: Planetary Atmospheres • Study of atmospheres on other planets

  9. Research topics: Dynamics • Physics (equations of motion)‏ • Global circulation • Mid-latitude cyclones • Monsoons • Planetary boundary layer (PBL)‏ • Air-Sea interations

  10. Research topic: Atmospheric Chemistry • Air quality (air pollution)‏ • Aerosols • Anthropogenic emissions • Ozone • Paleoclimate proxies • Instrumentation

  11. Research topic: Atmospheric Radiation • Energy balance of the atmosphere • Remote sensing (satellites)‏ • Planetary boundary layer (PBL)‏ • Absorption / scattering / reflection / emission

  12. Research topic: Clouds • Cloud dynamics • Storms • Precipitation processes • Aerosol interactions

  13. Research topic: Mesoscale Meteorology • Hurricanes/ Tropical storms / depressions • Convection • Tornadoes/Supercells/ Thunderstorms/Lightning • Mesoscale Convective Systems • Influence of topography on weather • Land and sea breeze circulations • Small-scale weather • Precipitation bands

  14. Careers in Government: Examples of Government Agencies • National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)‏ • National Weather Service (NWS)‏ • Climate Prediction Center (CPC)‏ • National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)‏ • Military • National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)‏ • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)‏

  15. What does the government do? • Air quality • Aviation weather • Fire weather • Marine weather • Severe weather • Weather forecasting • Hydrology • Climate monitoring and prediction • Satellite design /operation • Data collection • Natural resource management • Emergency Management • Space weather • Research

  16. Weather Forecasting • Forecasters use weather models generated by the government and other sources to predict the weather • Many different people have careers in forecasting • TV, radio, and newspaper weathermen • National Weather Service • Private companies (Accuweather, Intellicast, etc)

  17. Broadcast Meteorology • The “weather person” you see on TV news • Local TV and radio stations, national networks (ie: ABC, NBC)‏ • Local TV weather often write the weather forecast for newspapers as well • Cable channels like The Weather Channel • Skills in communication, public speaking and on-air presence are key!

  18. Broadcast Meteorology

  19. Private Forecasting • Many industries depend on accurate, targeted and specific weather forecasting for their economic success • Airlines and other transportation • Shipping companies • Agriculture • Outdoor recreation (ski resorts, etc)‏ • Operations in extreme environments such as Antarctica • Any business that must comply with environmental protection laws dealing with air or water pollution (ex: construction, manufacturing, energy) - many have their own meteorologist or hire one from a private consulting firm on a project-by-project basis

  20. Wind Energy • Wind energy is an important emerging sector of atmospheric sciences as more emphasis is put on alternative energy • Meteorologists help select a site that is best for a wind farm – somewhere with steady, strong winds • Once the wind farm is built, meteorologists must provide accurate, real-time forecasts of wind speed and direction so that transfer to the power grid goes smoothly.

  21. Wind Energy

  22. Consulting • Many different companies require the services of an atmospheric scientist. • Work ranges from technical to policy consulting

  23. Science Policy • Governments need scientists to interpret scientific results and apply it to laws and policies. • Many different political topics require the expertise of atmospheric scientists: • Global warming • Pollution • Environmental protection • Ocean acidification • All levels of government (federal, state, local) have opportunities for those who want to bridge the policy and science divide. • NGOs (non-governmental organizations) also help shape policy and require the expertise of scientists.

  24. Science Journalism and Writing • Communication of science to the public is important • Science writers interpret and report scientific results for the public • Science Communicators who have brought atmospheric science to the public: • Carl Sagan (Astronomer) • Al Gore (Politician) • James Balog (Photographer) • Andrew Revkin (Journalist)

  25. How to Prepare • In high school: • Strengthen your math, science, computer and writing skills • If your school offers an environmental science or weather class, consider taking it • In college: • Atmos. Sci. is broad, so a range of skills can make you successful – math, science, computer programming, communications, physics, oceanography, geography, political science – you get the idea! • There are many paid and unpaid internship opportunities available – NOAA, NWS, NCAR, Nat'l Labs, TV stations, local agencies (air quality, etc), private companies, DoE

  26. General Tips • Take EVERY advantage of opportunities to meet people you are interested in working for • Internships help you get experience, and help you decide if the field is right for you • It is your definition of success that matters, because it is your happiness

  27. Shameless Plug • UW non-major course offerings in atmospheric sciences • 101: Introduction to weather • 111: Global warming • 211: Climate and climate change • 212: Air pollution

  28. Questions? Thank You!

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