Meteorologists and climatologists
Career Overview
Meteorologists and Climatologists:
- Analyze and forecast weather, provide consultation on atmospheric events and conduct research into the processes and occurences of weather, climate and atmosphere
- Are employed by all levels of government, natural resources and utility companies, the media and private consulting firms, or they may be self-employed
Job Titles
Duties
Meteorologists and climatologists perform some or all of the following duties:
- Analyze and interpret data obtained from meteorological stations, radar and satellite imagery and computer models
- Create weather forecasts and provide weather consulting services for industries such as aviation, marine, agriculture and tourism
- Distribute weather forecasts and reports to the general public through a variety of media including radio, television, print and the internet
- Carry out research and provide consultation on the processes and causes of atmospheric events, weather and climate, atmospheric dispersion, and physical and chemical changes of pollution
- Create and test mathematical computer models of weather and climate for experimental or operational use
- Analyze the impact of industry and human activity on the climate and quality of the air, and work with the social science, engineering and economic communities to develop appropriate strategies to lessen the effect
- Participate in studies of the effect of weather on the environment
- Provide consultation and advice to outside agencies, professionals, or researchers regarding the use and meaning of climate information
- Make scientific presentations and publish reports, articles or popular texts for specialists, users or the general public
- Engage in the design and creation of new equipment and procedures for meteorological data collection, remote sensing, or related applications
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
130% Employed Full Time
85%Work in this occupation is typically performed in a normal controlled environment such as an office, hospital or school, or an outdoor work environment where the worker is exposed to variations in weather conditions and seasonal weather patterns.
Career Pathways
Career path information is currently not available.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- A bachelor's or master's degree in meteorology, atmospheric sciences or in a related field is required
- A doctoral degree is usually required for employment as a research scientist in meteorology
- Formal training is provided by Environment Canada for operational meteorologists employed by the federal government
- Membership in the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society or, in Quebec, in l'Association professionelle des météorologistes du Québec is available, but voluntary, for qualified meteorologists
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Atmospheric Science
- Physics Related
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations and the environment will affect outcomes.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
130Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 0 | 0.0% |
| Kootenay | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 75 | 57.7% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | 0.0% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 10 | 7.7% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 35 | 26.9% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
50Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | Not available | Not available |
| Mainland/Southwest | 30 | 1.9% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | Not available | Not available |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 10 | 1.2% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Public Administration | 40 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 10 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.