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.
In an era of climate change, many parts of the world are experiencing a greater number of extreme weather events, some of which cause damage to property or even loss of life. While not always directly responsible for facilitating a crime, the weather is often an accomplice. For example, the unprecedented drought affecting the western United States does not actually start wildfires, but creates opportunities for arson.
A spring onslaught of deadly tornadoes in the South may occur naturally, but the artificial firestorm of legal action that follows may span many seasons. Insurance adjusters must begin making payout decisions based on wind damage, and whether it resulted from straight-line gusts, or from the funnel cloud itself. Each conclusion can mean thousands of dollars, and help is commonly sought from meteorologists.
This reliance is not unprecedented. In the early 19th century, records show that legal action was taken because a local minister publicly prayed for rain, and got a violent thunderstorm in reply. He was sued by a local farmer, who lost. Few similar legal actions today involve the divine origin of a storm, relying instead on accurate scientific record-keeping made possible by 20th century technology.
Unlike the 19th century world, a network of stationary satellites constantly photographs and monitors global weather conditions in real time. Local stations are required to document daily weather events as they happen, aided by airport observations and regional Doppler radar. The National Weather Service issues regular bulletins, and even the tides are observed and recorded.
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 that data is readily available to authorized persons, most requires expert interpretation. A specialist in forensic weather analysis is able to sort through a mass of statistics and discard the irrelevant, while emphasizing those with meaning for a particular legal case. This increases the overall understanding of those involved in making lasting decisions, including juries and judges.
Like any weather scientist, a forensic investigator must have a bachelor degree in atmospheric science, which includes thermodynamics, physics, related mathematics, physical meteorology and weather prediction. Most also earn an advanced graduate degree, and salaries are commensurate with that investment. As weather around the globe becomes increasingly erratic, this is one field of opportunity that will continue to expand.
In an era of climate change, many parts of the world are experiencing a greater number of extreme weather events, some of which cause damage to property or even loss of life. While not always directly responsible for facilitating a crime, the weather is often an accomplice. For example, the unprecedented drought affecting the western United States does not actually start wildfires, but creates opportunities for arson.
A spring onslaught of deadly tornadoes in the South may occur naturally, but the artificial firestorm of legal action that follows may span many seasons. Insurance adjusters must begin making payout decisions based on wind damage, and whether it resulted from straight-line gusts, or from the funnel cloud itself. Each conclusion can mean thousands of dollars, and help is commonly sought from meteorologists.
This reliance is not unprecedented. In the early 19th century, records show that legal action was taken because a local minister publicly prayed for rain, and got a violent thunderstorm in reply. He was sued by a local farmer, who lost. Few similar legal actions today involve the divine origin of a storm, relying instead on accurate scientific record-keeping made possible by 20th century technology.
Unlike the 19th century world, a network of stationary satellites constantly photographs and monitors global weather conditions in real time. Local stations are required to document daily weather events as they happen, aided by airport observations and regional Doppler radar. The National Weather Service issues regular bulletins, and even the tides are observed and recorded.
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 that data is readily available to authorized persons, most requires expert interpretation. A specialist in forensic weather analysis is able to sort through a mass of statistics and discard the irrelevant, while emphasizing those with meaning for a particular legal case. This increases the overall understanding of those involved in making lasting decisions, including juries and judges.
Like any weather scientist, a forensic investigator must have a bachelor degree in atmospheric science, which includes thermodynamics, physics, related mathematics, physical meteorology and weather prediction. Most also earn an advanced graduate degree, and salaries are commensurate with that investment. As weather around the globe becomes increasingly erratic, this is one field of opportunity that will continue to expand.
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