FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of careers are there in Met Éireann?
Whom do I contact if I require further information?
What kind of work does a Meteorologist do?
What kind of work does a Meteorological Officer do?
Where are the observing stations in Met Éireann?
What are the different kinds of meteorological instruments and what do they measure?
What do all those weather terms mean?
How can I find out more about weather statistics?
What is the difference between climate and weather?
What is the Beaufort Scale?
How is wind measured ?
Can you tell me about weather reports?
What does the Synoptic Code look like?
How do you convert temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius?
Does Met Éireann issue seasonal forecasts?
What do the weather symbols mean?
Can I do my internship or student placement with Met Éireann?
I want to report a strange light in the sky?
Can you write me a weather report for a car accident?
Do you supply an RSS feed of your forecasts?

What kind of careers are there in Met Éireann?
Met Éireann has two entry grades

1. Meteorologist
2. Meteorological Officer

Necessary educational and other qualifications

1. Meteorologist: Recognised First or good Second Class Honours University degree in Meteorology or Physics or Mathematical Physics or Mathematics or a qualification regarded by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) as equivalent in value for the purpose of the competition to any of the foregoing. PAS is the centralised provider of recruitment, assessment and selection services for the Civil Service, and appointment to these posts is by way of open competitions conducted by PAS. Details of competitions are advertised in the national press and radio.

2. Meteorological Officer: Candidates must have obtained at least Grade D in five subjects (including Irish and/or English),in the Leaving Certificate ( or an equivalent examination ) with at least Grade C in Mathematics ( Higher Level ) and at least Grade D in one of the following subjects; Applied Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Physics and Chemistry, General Science, or an acceptable equivalent qualification. Appointments follow similar procedures as for Meteorologists.

Promotional opportunities exist in both streams

Whom do I contact if I require further information?
For further details please contact:
The Secretary,
Public Appointments Service,
Chapter House,
26/30 Abbey Street Upper,
Dublin 1,
Ireland.
Lo-Call: 1890-449999
Tel + 353-1-858-7400
Fax: +353-1-8587500
Fax: +353-1-8587574
Contact Form

What kind of work does a Meteorologist do?
A Meteorologist is concerned with the assessment and analysis of weather information. Duties include investigation and research into the physical nature of the laws governing air movement, pressure, and temperature changes to determine the causes which bring about the various atmospheric conditions. Analysing and summarising weather data for the purpose of preparing weather maps and forecasting weather changes are also part of a Meteorologist duties.

What kind of work does a Meteorological Officer do?
A Meteorological Officer performs the basic technical duties in the Meteorological Service. These duties include the performance of weather observations, the care and maintenance of meteorological instrumentation and communications facilities, computer operations and computer programming.

Where are the observing stations in Met Éireann?
Met Éireann Headquarters is located at Glasnevin Hill, Dublin 9. Observing stations are in the following places:

Aviation Services

Observing Stations

What are the different kinds of Meteorological Instruments and what do they measure?

Anemometer: Measures wind speed and direction	Barometer: Measures atmospheric pressure	Ceilometer: Measures the height of the base of a cloud layer	Hygrometer: Measures the humidity of the air.

Rain-gauge: Measures the amount of precipitation	Sunshine Recorder: Measures the duration of sunshine.	Stevenson Screen: A type of wooden louvered rectangular box which houses maximum and minimum (centre) and wet and dry bulb thermometers. On the right hand side is a bimetallic thermograph and a hygrograph on the left.

What do all those weather terms mean?
Anticyclone: Region of the atmosphere where the pressures are high relative to those in the surrounding region at the same level.

Depression: Region of the atmosphere in which the pressures are lower than those of the surrounding region at the same level. The opposite to an Anticyclone.

Cyclone: A severe type of tropical storm with very low atmospheric pressure at the centre and strong winds blowing around it.

Gulf Stream: A current of warm surface ocean water in the North Atlantic flowing from the Gulf of Mexico towards northwest Europe. It has an important influence in maintaining relatively mild winters in Ireland.

hectoPascal: Unit of pressure, equivalent to a Millibar.

Isobar: Line joining points of equal pressure

Isohyet: Line joining points of equal precipitation amount recorded during a specific period.

Isotach: Line joining points of equal wind speed

Isotherm: Line joining points of equal air temperature.

How can I find out more about weather statistics?
Check Recent Weather for yesterday's weather and monthly data for the year so far.
Check the Climate section (30 year averages) for:

* Monthly mean Air Temperatures
* Mean Maximum and Minimum Air Temperatures
* Wind speeds
* Rainfall, Sunshine, Humidity and other climatological means and extremes.

If you require more detailed information such as weather reports, expert opinion or detailed analyses, please contact our Climate and Observations Division.
A fee may apply for the provision of the above.

What is the difference between climate and weather?
Climate refers to long-term records, trends and averages; what one would expect the weather to be like. This is usually determined by examining weather conditions over a long period of time. Weather is the day to day experience of what is actually happening at a particular time.

What is the Beaufort Scale?
The Beaufort Scale was devised by Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort in 1805/06. It is a way of estimating the wind strength according to the appearance of the sea (or on land, largely by the response of trees). VIEW BEAUFORT SCALE

How is wind measured ?
Direction
The direction of the wind is referred to by the points of the compass, from which the wind blows, for instance, northerly, south-easterly, westerly. An easterly wind is one that comes from the east. Winds are often described in terms of a change in direction. A northerly wind may be said to be veering east, or backing west. A backing wind is one that will move its direction back around the compass (anticlockwise). A wind that veers changes its direction clockwise around the compass points.
The wind's direction is measured using a wind vane and can be recorded on a wind rose by shading a square, corresponding to the direction from which it blows.
Speed
An anemometer or ventimeter is used for measuring speed in kilometres or miles per hour. The faster the wind blows, the faster the cups on an anemometer spin, or the higher the disc rises inside a ventimeter.
The Beaufort Scale is useful to indicate the strength of the wind. VIEW BEAUFORT SCALE
Wind instruments should be kept clear from walls, fences and houses, as these will interfere with the speed reading and the wind's direction becomes difficult to ascertain.

Can you tell me about weather reports ?
Readings are taken hourly at all our weather stations. Wind direction and speed, dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures from which humidity is calculated, atmospheric pressure and tendency, cloud amounts and types and heights, visibility, the current or present weather during the hour and also weather that has occurred over the previous three hours, known as the past weather.
The readings are coded and entered into a PC where they are quality controlled before being transmitted via modem to Glasnevin in Dublin.

STEVENSON SCREEN		TYPICAL AUTOMATIC WEATHER STATION (AWS)

Does Met Éireann issue seasonal forecasts?
Met Éireann does not produce seasonal forecasts, please see here for more information.

What do the weather symbols mean?
Please see here for more information.

Can I do my internship or student placement with Met Éireann?
Unfortunately we are not in a position at present to accept any students on work placement. There is information here regarding careers within Met Éireann, but we are not hiring at present.

I want to report a strange light in the sky?
Please contact either of the following: Dunsink Observatory or Astronomy Ireland

Can you write me a weather report for a car accident?
A legal report for an insurance claim or similar needs to be specially prepared by one of the meteorologists in our Climate Enquiries office. You can see a sample report here and a list of our charges for this service is available here.


Do you supply an RSS feed of your forecasts?
This is not something we provide at present, although we hope to do so in the future.