In classic mystery dramas the guilty party nearly always leaves some bit of evidence at the scene of the crime, noticed only by a clever master detective who is able to reconstruct the event and solve the case. When legal actions involve the effects of weather, meteorologists are increasingly being asked to play the role of private investigator. Forensic meteorology reconstructs past weather conditions that can prove pivotal to legal proceedings.
Today, changing climate is responsible for increasing weather extremes, some of which are responsible for severe property damage. Although weather alone does not break any law, it can become an accomplice to questionable human activity. The current drought depleting scarce water supplies in California creates conditions ideal for wildfires, but does not light the cigarette that ignites an inferno.
In the South, spring tornado outbreaks may be a natural phenomenon that usually ends quickly, but the legal repercussions can continue for years. A tidal wave of property insurance claims usually follows, and it is the job of investigators to determine whether the culprit was straight-line winds or the tornado itself. Each decision can result in significant expenditures for insurers, who commonly seek the help of meteorologists.
This practice is not new. As early as the 19th century, legal action was taken against a minister who prayed for rain, and instead got a wild thunderstorm. A local farmer sued, but lost, making this one of the first cases involving weather. Today, rather than discussing whether or not a particular storm was divinely sent, experts rely on scientific records and techniques developed in the 20th century.
Today, there is a wide spectrum of tools available to weather scientists. A vast array of satellites occupy geosynchronous orbits around the planet, constantly recording and transmitting atmospheric images. On the ground, weather stations keep detailed records, buttressed by regional Doppler radar and airport stations. The National Weather Service issues regular bulletins, and even the tides are tracked for abnormalities.
Nearly all of this data is stored electronically, and made available when required. Human recollections of a particular day may be hazy, but the records provide an accurate readout. A sudden, massive bank of fog may result in a huge vehicle chain-reaction pileup, and there may be legal need to determine visibility. Expert meteorologic testimony can help decide if the weather was totally to blame, or if unsafe speeds contributed to the destruction.
Although any authorized person can read weather data, it takes an expert to interpret them accurately. A forensic weather specialist can connect the information, and sort out inconsequential data while retaining the meaningful events. The result is a combined report that can be easily understood by all involved parties, including juries. Scientific fact is not disputable, and can be the final word.
People interested in pursuing a career in this field must first earn a bachelor degree in atmospheric science. This includes studying thermodynamics, mathematics, physics, weather prediction and physical meteorology, and eventually successfully completing a graduate degree. Salaries are comparatively high and the work is often demanding, but as world weather patterns become more extreme this technological field will continue to expand.
Today, changing climate is responsible for increasing weather extremes, some of which are responsible for severe property damage. Although weather alone does not break any law, it can become an accomplice to questionable human activity. The current drought depleting scarce water supplies in California creates conditions ideal for wildfires, but does not light the cigarette that ignites an inferno.
In the South, spring tornado outbreaks may be a natural phenomenon that usually ends quickly, but the legal repercussions can continue for years. A tidal wave of property insurance claims usually follows, and it is the job of investigators to determine whether the culprit was straight-line winds or the tornado itself. Each decision can result in significant expenditures for insurers, who commonly seek the help of meteorologists.
This practice is not new. As early as the 19th century, legal action was taken against a minister who prayed for rain, and instead got a wild thunderstorm. A local farmer sued, but lost, making this one of the first cases involving weather. Today, rather than discussing whether or not a particular storm was divinely sent, experts rely on scientific records and techniques developed in the 20th century.
Today, there is a wide spectrum of tools available to weather scientists. A vast array of satellites occupy geosynchronous orbits around the planet, constantly recording and transmitting atmospheric images. On the ground, weather stations keep detailed records, buttressed by regional Doppler radar and airport stations. The National Weather Service issues regular bulletins, and even the tides are tracked for abnormalities.
Nearly all of this data is stored electronically, and made available when required. Human recollections of a particular day may be hazy, but the records provide an accurate readout. A sudden, massive bank of fog may result in a huge vehicle chain-reaction pileup, and there may be legal need to determine visibility. Expert meteorologic testimony can help decide if the weather was totally to blame, or if unsafe speeds contributed to the destruction.
Although any authorized person can read weather data, it takes an expert to interpret them accurately. A forensic weather specialist can connect the information, and sort out inconsequential data while retaining the meaningful events. The result is a combined report that can be easily understood by all involved parties, including juries. Scientific fact is not disputable, and can be the final word.
People interested in pursuing a career in this field must first earn a bachelor degree in atmospheric science. This includes studying thermodynamics, mathematics, physics, weather prediction and physical meteorology, and eventually successfully completing a graduate degree. Salaries are comparatively high and the work is often demanding, but as world weather patterns become more extreme this technological field will continue to expand.
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