|
What kind of career positions are there in Meteorology
in St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Whom do I contact if I require further information?
What kind of work does a Forecaster do?
What kind of work does a Meteorological Officer do?
What kind of work does a Meteorological Assistant do?
What kind of work does an Airport Cadets (Meteorology)
do?
How many observing stations does SVGMETS have and
where are they?
What are the different kinds of meteorological
instruments and what do they measure?
What do all those weather terms mean?
How can I find out more about weather statistics?
What is the difference between climate and weather?
What is the Beaufort Scale?
How is wind measured?
Can you tell me about weather reports?
How can I visit the Meteorological Service Office?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What
kind of career positions are there in
Meteorology in St. Vincent and the Grenadines?
|
The
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Meteorological Services
has over the years been making available more
opportunities for employee to advance in a career in
meteorology. The following are potential career
positions:
1.
Airport Cadet: Candidates must have obtained at least
Grade C in five subjects (including English, Math and a
science course, preferably Physics), at O' and or A'
Level certification (or an equivalent examination).
Certification in Mathematics and Physics puts the
applicant at a distinct advantage. Appointments follow
competitive interviews by the Public Services
Commission.
2.
Meteorological Assistant: Candidates must have the
qualifications listed in 1 above and must have
successfully completed the WMO ELMT Course.
3.
Meteorological Officer: Candidates must have the
qualifications listed in 1 above and must have
successfully completed the WMO MLMT Course.
4. Forecaster: WMO SLMT Forecaster certification
or University degree in Meteorology or Physics or
Mathematical Physics or Mathematics or a qualification
regarded by the Public Service Commission (PSC) as
equivalent in value for the purpose of the competition
to any of the foregoing. (Position pending)
Appointment to these posts is by way of open
competitions conducted by the Public Service Commission
(PSC). Details of vacancies are advertised in the
national press and radio. Details may be obtained also
from the PSC at
servcom@caribsurf.com
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
|
|
Whom do I contact if I
require further information?
|
|
For further details please contact:
Public Service Commission,
Ministerial Building
Central Kingstown ,
St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
Tel: +784-456-1111
or The Meteorological Officer: Tel +784-458-4477
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
|
|
What kind of work does
a Forecaster do? |
|
A Forecaster is
concerned with the assessment and analysis of
weather information. Duties include keeping a
constant surveillance on the state of the
atmosphere: air movement, pressure, and temperature
changes etc. to determine the causes which bring
about the various atmospheric conditions. He then
engages in analyses and summaries of the
weather data for the purpose of preparing weather
maps and forecasts.
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
|
|
What kind of work does
a Meteorological Officer do?
|
|
A
Meteorological Officer performs the technical
supervisory duties in the Meteorological Service. These
duties include the performance of quality assurance
checking on the completed weather observations and the
climatological database, the care and maintenance of
meteorological instrumentation and communications
facilities, computer operations, communicating with the
public, etc.
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
|
|
What kind of work
does a Meteorological Assistant do?
|
|
A
Meteorological Assistant makes and records weather
observations, inputs climatological data into the
computers, disseminates and retrieves weather data,
plots weather information on to charts and maps, etc.
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
|
|
What kind of work does
an Airport Cadet (Meteorology) do?
|
|
An Airport Cadet assists with
meteorological or related work as assigned to him/ her
as part of his/ her in service on-the-job experience.
Such work is designed to familiarise him/ her with
things to be encountered while in formal training and in
Forecast Office on-the-job experience.
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
|
|
How many observing
stations does SVGMETS's have, and where are they?
|
|
Currently
there are five (6) observing stations ,
one (manual) and five automatic station
(AWOS).
These are located at SVGMETS Headquarters, at the
E.T. Joshua Airport, Arnos Vale, the Coast Guard Base,
Calliaqua (Sea-Level Tide station), Bequia, Union Island
and Canouan.
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
|
|
What are the different
kinds of Instruments used and what do they
measure?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Psychrometer: Measures temperature and humidity
|
Stevenson Screen:
A wooden louvered box, usually
painted white and rectangular containing several
thermometers etc. The screen is exposed about
4.5 - 6.0 ft above level grassed ground.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Barograph: Measures and records atmospheric
pressure.
|
Sunshine recorder
measures bright sunshine |
Evaporometer:
A Class A Evaporation Pan - Measures the amount
of water evaporated from a water surface.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Anemometer: Indicated wind speed and direction
|
Anemograph:
Records wind speed and direction
|
SVGMETS is a highly computerised and
technical career work site. Specialized training
is required. |
|
|
|
|
Rain-gauges: Measures and or records the amount of
rainfall
|
Thermo-Hygrograph:
records temperature and humidity of the air
|
Barometer: Measures atmospheric pressure
|
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
|
|
What do all those
weather terms mean? |
Tropical Wave: An area of low pressure (a trough)
in the Easterly wind flow. It's a perturbation in the
wind flow identified by SE to NE shift in the wind
field.
A High- A high pressure area with a
distinct center of anticyclonic (clockwise) circulation
which can be completely encircled by one or more isobars
or height contour lines. The atmospheric pressure is
higher than the pressure in the surrounding air. The
winds blow outward and clockwise around an high in the
Northern Hemisphere. The term usually is used to
distinguish a high pressure area, from a high-pressure
ridge.
Instability- Imbalance in the atmosphere
resulting from the unequal significant forces operating
at that time and place. Instability is most often used
to refer to the atmospheric condition manifesting
vertical motion unequalness. That is there is more
rising motion than sinking motion or vice versa.
A Ridge - An elongated area of relatively high
atmospheric pressure at the surface or aloft. Usually
not associated with a closed circulation, and thus used
to distinguish from an anticyclone.
Haze- Fine dust or salt particles in the air that
reduce visibility.
A Low- A low pressure area with a distinct center
of cyclonic (anticlockwise) circulation which can be
completely encircled by one or more isobars or height
contour lines. The atmospheric pressure is lower than
the pressure in the surrounding air. The winds blow
inward and anticlockwise around a low in the Northern
Hemisphere. The term usually is used to distinguish a
low pressure area from a low-pressure trough.
A Trough - An elongated area of relatively low
atmospheric pressure surface or aloft. Usually not
associated with a closed circulation, and thus used to
distinguish from a closed low. The opposite of ridge.
Thunderstorm - A storm with lightning and
thunder, produced by a cumulonimbus cloud, usually
producing gusty winds, heavy rain and sometimes hail.
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
|
|
How
can I find out more about weather statistics?
|
|
Check the
Climate page
for an information preview as to what available
climate data there is. If more detailed information
such as weather reports, expert opinion or detailed
analyses is require, please contact us. Currently
SVGMETS does not apply a fee for the provision data
services. However time to fulfillment of request
varies depending on the extent of the period covered
by the request.
Request should state
the intended use of the data or analyses, the time
required, and contact information.
Note: Data may not be
used for publication without the written expression
of SVGMETS authorities.
Data and analyses of
great extent and detail may be obtained from the
Caribbean Meteorological Institute for a minimal
fee.
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
|
|
What
is the difference between climate and weather?
|
|
Climate refers to long-term records, trends and
averages; what one would expect the weather to be like.
This is usually determined by examining weather
conditions over a long period of time. Weather
is the day to day experience of what is actually
happening at a particular time.
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
|
|
What
is the Beaufort Scale?
|
|
The
Beaufort Scale was devised by Admiral Sir Francis
Beaufort about 1805. It is a way of estimating the wind
strength according to the appearance of the sea (or on
land, largely by the response of trees).
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
|
|
How
is wind measured?
|
Direction
The direction of the wind
is referred to by the points of the compass, from which
the wind blows, for instance, northerly, south-easterly,
westerly. An easterly wind is one that comes from the
east. Winds are often described in terms of a change in
direction. The wind's direction is measured using a wind
vane corresponding to the direction from which it blows.
Speed
An anemometer or ventimeter is
used for measuring speed in kilometers or miles per
hour. The faster the wind blows, the faster the cups on
an anemometer spin, or the higher the disc rises inside
a ventimeter.
Wind instruments should be kept
clear from walls, fences and houses, as these will
interfere with the speed reading and the wind's
direction becomes difficult to ascertain. Wind equipment
is measures best when they are placed in a large open
environment.
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
|
|
Can
you tell me about weather reports?
|
Readings are
taken hourly at our weather main station. Wind direction
and speed, dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures from which
humidity is calculated, atmospheric pressure and
pressure trend, cloud amounts and types and heights,
visibility, the current or present weather during the
hour and also weather that has occurred over the
previous hours, known as the past weather.
The
readings are coded and entered into a computer where
they are verified before being transmitted worldwide.
The readings are also written in plain language and
transmitted to the Press and broadcast stations for
distribution to the public.
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
|
|
How
can I visit the Meteorological Service Office?
|
Tours of the office are usually given during
normal business hours on Monday-Friday, and are usually
scheduled in advance. This is to assure that sufficient
staff are present in order to give a proper introduction
and explanation of our products and services. School
groups usually should be at or above the 3rd grade.
There may be other requirements. Call the office during
normal weekday business hours for more information.
Contact Information
If you would like to contact the Meteorological Service
office at Arnos Vale, please write:
The Meteorological Officer
St. Vincent & the Grenadines Meteorological Service
Civil Aviation Department
E.T. Joshua Airport
Arnos Vale
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
You can phone us at or send a facsimile to (784)
458-4477 during normal business hours (8:00 AM through
4:00 PM, Monday through Friday).
Also, you can email us at
svgmet@yahoo.com. Your question/comment will then be
forwarded to the appropriate individual.
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
|
Updated
December 12, 2006 |
