Meteorology market under performs!
Questions asked in the UK Parliament have provided estimates on the number of meteorologists that work in the UK. The figures are of interest with respect to the meteorology market, which as the figures presented at the ePSI plus Pricing meeting held in London would indicate is still under performing due to the pricing and policies of the European Meteorology Institutes.
Parliamentary material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO on behalf of Parliament
Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of how many meteorologists work in the UK. [157208]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 24 October 2007]: At the current time, the Met Office has some 400 forecasting and observing staff working directly in weather forecast production in the UK. The Met Office
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also has a small number of forecasters and observers working in overseas locations. In addition there are some 300 scientists working in meteorological research and development. There are also a number of staff working in management and support roles who have a meteorological background.
The Royal Navy currently has 136 HM (hydrographic, meteorological, oceanographic) officers and 13 warrant officers and chief petty officers who have received some form of training as meteorological forecasters. Only a proportion of these will be directly employed on forecasting duties at any one time. In addition to the trained forecasters, the RN has around 70 junior and senior rates trained as meteorological observers/forecasters' assistants, most of whom will be employed on forecasting duties at any one time.
In addition to those working at the Met Office and in the Royal Navy, the Royal Meteorological Society estimates there are approximately 550 meteorologists working in academia and industry throughout the UK.
Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of meteorologists likely to be needed in the UK in (a) 2010, (b) 2020 and (c) 2030; and if he will make a statement. [157209]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 24 October 2007]: On current plans the requirement for meteorologists both at the Met Office and in the Royal Navy is likely to remain broadly constant in the future although the requirement is kept under regular review. I am unable to comment on the future requirement for meteorologists working outside of MOD.”
ePSI plus Thematic Meeting – PSI Pricing 2
The ePSIplus PSI Pricing meeting titled: PSI Pricing 2 – Impact analysis in the context of the PSI Directive , held in London on the 1st & 2nd November 2007 also considered the latest research figures collated by PRIMET, the Association of Private Meteorological Services.
The presentation titled: Towards a stronger European market in applied meteorology presented by Richard Pettifer, the PRIMET General Secretary, shows that the European meteorology market in Europe remains significantly smaller than that of the United States and the reason given for this was due to the pricing and practices of the European Meteorology Institutes even after the Directive 2003/98/EC came into force – it would appear that the Directive has had minimal impact in this thematic sector. The presentation is an update on that given at the 7th EMS Annual Meeting, 8th European Conference on Applications of Meteorology, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain, 01 – 05 October 2007.
The ePSI plus Thematic Network will continue to explore through its various channels as to why this is the case.
Minister opens PSI Pricing meeting
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