Sunny days ahead in weather watching
Trilochan Singh Trewn

Meteorology is basically the science of forecasting weather. Initially, it was the art of providing advance information regarding local rains and storms. But in the course of time, it became a major department dealing scientifically with phenomenon like winds, storms, rains, variations in temperatures, earthquakes of local as well as global origin, etc. Today, no aircraft can take off without a meteorological clearance. Typhoons, cyclones and hurricanes frequently strike many parts of the world. In America, practically every car on the street has a continuous weather broadcast facility.

The recent undersea earthquakes north of Sumatra have added new responsibilities to a meteorologist. Although the tsunami is not directly created by weather conditions, harbour waves do affect the environment severely. As such, all measures to control a disaster like the tsunami are an adjunct to the worldwide meteorological network.

The government has now decided to set up a comprehensive tsunami information centre in the Indian Ocean. It'll be linked with several fibroptic sensors to be located at specific places in Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Indonesia, Malaysia, Andaman and Nicobar islands in addition to wave buoys to be strategically located for providing an indication of the speed, height and direction of tsunami waves. This will happen at lighting speed and information will be conveyed to all concerned by a computer network, as is being done for 26 regional sub-centres scattered all over the Pacific Ocean and members of this Pacific organisation.

The installation of such facilities in the Indian Ocean will involve considerable investment on trained manpower and sophisticated equipment spread thousands of miles apart. Obviously, thousands of new jobs will be generated in this field. The enterprising youth can thus equip themselves with the qualifications needed to avail of the new opportunities being generated.

The meteorology offices in the country are mostly being looked after by government agencies. The Indian Meteorological Department is looking after weather forcasting and related jobs in all regions of the country through a network of offices in places like Chandigarh, Ambala, Patiala, etc. Since there is no observatory at Chandigarh, all met information is obtained from the Chandigarh airport observatory managed by the Indian Air Force.

Entry into the civilian Class I gazetted officer cadre of the Indian Meteorological Service is through the UPSC (Shahjehan Road, New Delhi). Advertisements pertaining to these posts are published in leading newspapers during January and June every year.

The minimum qualification is a postgraduate degree with physics as a compulsory subject. Training after selection is at Pune, where the meteorological headquarters, with modern equipment and facilities, is located. Those possessing only a graduate degree with physics may join as a senior observer in the Meteorogolical Department. An observer can also be promoted as a meteorological officer, depending upon performance.

The starting basic pay of an assistant meteorologist is around Rs 6500 per month, plus all perks and facilities available to Central Government officers.

All airports and harbours have their own meteorology sections. The Indian Air Force has its own cadre of meteorological officers. The qualifications for entry into this defence service are the same as for civilian counterparts. The pay scale is that applicable to a flying officer after training — Rs 14, 250 per month with all other perks applicable to defence officers, including free food etc.

The same is the case with meteorology officers serving at the Indian Navy's harbour installations, naval airports or aircraft carriers. The Indian Navy's met officers have a common cadre with it's education officers. The pay and perks are the same as those applicable to other Navy officers. The basic meteorological training of all civilian and defence meteorological officers is carried out at the Indian met facility in Pune.

For entering the defence forces as a meteorologist, contact the nearest Military Recruiting Office of your area.