Weather technician

Weather technicians are mostly part of the staff of weather stations , primarily in the area of the German Weather Service ( DWD ).

The job of a weather technician requires a secondary school leaving certificate and a special interest in scientific subjects.

Field of activity

The field of activity of the weather technician lies in particular in advising customers, in operating and reading the measuring instruments, as well as in drawing weather maps . Since the required data and maps are almost exclusively stored electronically, it is an advantage if you are familiar with computers and the Internet . Operating the measuring devices on the measuring field - also known as the climate garden - requires a certain physical condition and technical understanding. The job also requires good observation, a good memory, drawing skills and the ability to concentrate. Punctuality is particularly important because of the shift work. Perseverance and sociability are further requirements for the job of a weather technician.

education

The training to become a weather technician takes place at the weather service school; that of the DWD is located in Langen (Hessen) near Frankfurt am Main . In the last quarter of the year at this school, the trainees are prepared for the final exams. Around 20 trainees are currently hired nationwide. Further training opportunities exist in the area of aviation weather service . In-house training measures, such as B. held computer courses or courses on customer orientation.

Future prospects

The future of this profession is questionable, because the increasing automation of weather stations (conversion into automatic weather stations) means that personnel will probably become more and more redundant.