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.
An outbreak of tornadoes in the South may be a natural phenomenon, but the legal storm that follows an outbreak can last for decades. The resulting swarm of property insurance claims require making a determination whether the damage has been caused by straight-line winds, or by the actual tornado. Those decisions mean multiple-millions of dollars to insurers, and they commonly seek help from meteorologists.
That sort of reliance is not without precedent. Two hundred years ago, a rural American minister prayed mightily for drought-ending rain, and was rewarded by a violent thunderhead pushing straight-line winds. He was sued by a local farmer, who did not win. Today, instead of debating the divine origins of bad weather, meteorologists rely heavily upon accurate records produced by modern technological tools.
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.
Most of this data is retained, and can be made available when necessary. While individual memories of a particular event may vary, data records do not. When a massive fog bank causes a 30-vehicle pileup, there may be legal questions surrounding visibility at the time. The testimony of an expert meteorologist can determine whether or not fog was the issue, or unsafe driving speeds.
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.
An outbreak of tornadoes in the South may be a natural phenomenon, but the legal storm that follows an outbreak can last for decades. The resulting swarm of property insurance claims require making a determination whether the damage has been caused by straight-line winds, or by the actual tornado. Those decisions mean multiple-millions of dollars to insurers, and they commonly seek help from meteorologists.
That sort of reliance is not without precedent. Two hundred years ago, a rural American minister prayed mightily for drought-ending rain, and was rewarded by a violent thunderhead pushing straight-line winds. He was sued by a local farmer, who did not win. Today, instead of debating the divine origins of bad weather, meteorologists rely heavily upon accurate records produced by modern technological tools.
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.
Most of this data is retained, and can be made available when necessary. While individual memories of a particular event may vary, data records do not. When a massive fog bank causes a 30-vehicle pileup, there may be legal questions surrounding visibility at the time. The testimony of an expert meteorologist can determine whether or not fog was the issue, or unsafe driving speeds.
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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