THE weekend weather forecast may be your only interest in the climate, but what you see on this forecast is but a small glimpse into the world of climate science.
Dr Mark Tadross, a climatologist based in the department of environmental and geographical science at the University of Cape Town, says climate science is becoming a popular career.
More people want to study climatology, whereas before there was very little interest in the career.
"In the past few years I've spent more time working on climate change."
Climate scientists, also known as climatologists, study the earth's climate over long periods of time.
Past and future climate is important and can involve looking from five months to 50 years into the future.
Tadross's journey to becoming a climatologist was a roundabout one.
"I only became a climatologist at the age of 30," he says. His interest in astronomy led him to do a degree in astrophysics.
But he realised that he wanted a career involving more fieldwork and the easiest transition was to move into geophysics.
He has worked in the academic field and in industry, and enjoys aspects of both. After completing a PhD in satellite mapping of Arctic Sea ice at the University of Cambridge, Tadross worked as an independent computer systems administrator at astronomical sites in Chile and within the telecoms sector.
"I saw interesting places while working in industry, but I felt that I needed a new challenge," he says.
Academics have more freedom to pursue their own research interests than climatologists working in industry.
"My PhD equipped me with skills I needed to be a climatologist. But I had to learn more about climate and weather," he says.
Currently he is interested in developing forecasts that can be used for agricultural planning.
His day-to-day job is flexible and consists of supervising PhD, masters and honours students, writing research papers and doing computer-based work.
"The best part of the job is getting into the field, but I often find myself writing project proposals and reports," he says.
Climatologists must have good computer skills, as they spend a lot of time working on computer modelling. A good understanding of subjects such as physics, statistics and mathematics is important. You also need an analytical mind to interpret data.
If you study climate science, but decide not to work as a climatologist, your skills aren't wasted.
Companies often need professionals who can construct computer-based simulation models and there is a need for climatologists in the academic field.
Students who are interested in economics can study the economic impact of climate change. There's also a need for creative-minded people to become climatologists, as the industry needs people who can find creative ways to deliver information to audiences in an accessible way. - SA Career Focus
Climate science becoming a popular career
THE weekend weather forecast may be your only interest in the climate, but what you see on this forecast is but a small glimpse into the world of climate science.
Dr Mark Tadross, a climatologist based in the department of environmental and geographical science at the University of Cape Town, says climate science is becoming a popular career.
More people want to study climatology, whereas before there was very little interest in the career.
"In the past few years I've spent more time working on climate change."
Climate scientists, also known as climatologists, study the earth's climate over long periods of time.
Past and future climate is important and can involve looking from five months to 50 years into the future.
Tadross's journey to becoming a climatologist was a roundabout one.
"I only became a climatologist at the age of 30," he says. His interest in astronomy led him to do a degree in astrophysics.
But he realised that he wanted a career involving more fieldwork and the easiest transition was to move into geophysics.
He has worked in the academic field and in industry, and enjoys aspects of both. After completing a PhD in satellite mapping of Arctic Sea ice at the University of Cambridge, Tadross worked as an independent computer systems administrator at astronomical sites in Chile and within the telecoms sector.
"I saw interesting places while working in industry, but I felt that I needed a new challenge," he says.
Academics have more freedom to pursue their own research interests than climatologists working in industry.
"My PhD equipped me with skills I needed to be a climatologist. But I had to learn more about climate and weather," he says.
Currently he is interested in developing forecasts that can be used for agricultural planning.
His day-to-day job is flexible and consists of supervising PhD, masters and honours students, writing research papers and doing computer-based work.
"The best part of the job is getting into the field, but I often find myself writing project proposals and reports," he says.
Climatologists must have good computer skills, as they spend a lot of time working on computer modelling. A good understanding of subjects such as physics, statistics and mathematics is important. You also need an analytical mind to interpret data.
If you study climate science, but decide not to work as a climatologist, your skills aren't wasted.
Companies often need professionals who can construct computer-based simulation models and there is a need for climatologists in the academic field.
Students who are interested in economics can study the economic impact of climate change. There's also a need for creative-minded people to become climatologists, as the industry needs people who can find creative ways to deliver information to audiences in an accessible way. - SA Career Focus
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