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.
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.
A wide variety of tools collect weather data today, including a network of satellites circling the globe taking constant photographs. Local weather stations keep detailed records of daily events, aided by Doppler radar and airport observations, as well as National Weather Service bulletins. Even tidal movements are recorded in coastal areas during storms.
Nearly all this data is stored and made available when required. Human memories of a particular day may be fragmentary, but electronic records are precise. If a deadly fog bank causes a massive freeway chain-reaction collision, questions regarding road visibility may affect subsequent legal proceedings. Expert meteorologic testimony helps determine whether the fog was entirely at fault, or whether speeds were simply unsafe for conditions.
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.
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.
A wide variety of tools collect weather data today, including a network of satellites circling the globe taking constant photographs. Local weather stations keep detailed records of daily events, aided by Doppler radar and airport observations, as well as National Weather Service bulletins. Even tidal movements are recorded in coastal areas during storms.
Nearly all this data is stored and made available when required. Human memories of a particular day may be fragmentary, but electronic records are precise. If a deadly fog bank causes a massive freeway chain-reaction collision, questions regarding road visibility may affect subsequent legal proceedings. Expert meteorologic testimony helps determine whether the fog was entirely at fault, or whether speeds were simply unsafe for conditions.
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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