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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Prepare for field work
  2. Perform basic meteorological measurements
  3. Verify meteorological data
  4. Interpret and apply meteorological information
  5. Maintain a safe work environment
  6. Report data and finalise documentation

Range Statement

This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included.

Legislation, regulations, standards, codes, workplace procedures and requirements include the latest version of one or more of:

federal legislation, such as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, Australian Heritage Council Act, Native Title Act and National Environmental Protection Measures

state/territory government legislation and local government by-laws, policies, regulations and plans dealing with land use; environmental protection; cultural/heritage sites; vegetation management; nature conservation and wildlife/plant protection; water and water management; soil conservation; pollution and contaminated sites; fisheries, forestry and mining operations

legislation, standards and codes of practice for work health and safety (WHS)

Australian and international standards covering environmental management, such as AS/NZS ISO 14000 Basic Set:2007 Environmental Management Basic Set; and air measurements, such as AS 2923 Ambient air

industry methods and guidelines, such as:

Australian Bureau of Meteorology Observation Specification 2013.1 Guidelines for the siting and exposure of meteorological instruments and observing facilities

National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure Technical Paper No 6: Meteorological Measurements

World Meteorological Organisation - No. 8: Guide to Meteorological Instruments and Methods of Observation

registration/licensing and/or accreditation requirements

workplace or regulator’s procedures for meteorological monitoring; recording, processing, presenting and reporting meteorological data

workplace documents, such as standard operating procedures (SOPs), work schedules, recording and reporting procedures, equipment manuals and warranties; safety data sheets (SDS) and safety procedures; waste minimisation, containment, processing and safe disposal procedures.

Siting and installation considerations for meteorological instrumentation include one or more of:

topography

vegetation and built structures

exposure

availability of services

site security.

Meteorological instrumentation includes one or more of:

thermometers, such as liquid in glass, thermocouples, Pt resistance, thermistors, hygrometers and psychrometers

barometers, such as aneroid, mercury

anemometers, such as rotational, pressure tube and Doppler

rain gauges, such as manual, tipping bucket, automatic weather stations (AWS), radiometers, net pyranometer, total solar radiometer.

Meteorological parameters include one or more of:

temperature and temperature gradient

atmospheric pressure

humidity

precipitation

wind speed and direction (vector and scalar)

vertical wind speed

insolation and net radiation

evaporation.

Hazards include one or more of:

sunlight, dust, noise and heat

extreme weather conditions (e.g. fire, flood and storms)

manual/handling of heavy equipment or materials

crushing, entanglement and cuts associated with moving machinery

vehicular traffic on roads and sites

injuries caused by falling objects and working conditions such as: uneven surfaces, heights, slopes and wet surfaces

biohazards (e.g. microbiological organisms in soils)

chemical hazards/contaminants in soils.

WHS requirements include:

compliance with relevant federal/state/territory WHS legislation at all times

assuming that samples are potentially hazardous and applying standard precautions

accessing and applying current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and state/territory Departments of Health, where relevant.


Performance Evidence

Evidence of competence in this unit must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include demonstration of:

siting and setting up basic ‘ground level’ meteorological monitoring equipment and collecting reliable field data on at least two (2) occasions

analysing, interpreting and summarising the key features of at least two (2) sets of meteorological data

explaining the purpose and objectives of meteorological monitoring tasks, including:

information and analysis required

end users of information

significance of outcomes for broader programs

accurately interpreting maps, aerial photos, instructions, specifications, procedures and/or manuals associated with job role

planning and organising resources for efficient meteorological data collection

setting up, checking and operating meteorological equipment at a field site in accordance with manuals and/or workplace procedures

accurately recording and/or storing field data

assessing quality of field data and interpreting significant features and anomalies

identifying and rectifying basic instrument faults

verifying that processed data meets quality requirements

comparing collected/processed data with other meteorological data sets, associating meteorological parameters, interpreting results and drawing logical conclusions

seeking advice when issues/problems are beyond scope of competence/responsibility

accurately reporting field data and site observations

following procedures for working safely and minimising environmental impacts and waste.


Knowledge Evidence

Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:

distinction between weather and climate and an awareness of climate change science

composition and structure of the atmosphere, especially the lower atmosphere

solar energy spectrum and link to atmospheric conditions

seasonality, effects of latitude and continental geography

atmospheric motion (horizontal and vertical)

lifting (orographic, convective and frontal)

basic pressure/temperature/volume principles

high and low pressure cell formation

weather effects (e.g. precipitation, temperature and wind strength/direction)

local wind effects (e.g. sea breeze, city breeze, katabatic winds and anabatic winds)

forms of atmospheric moisture and humidity

atmospheric conditions related to wind direction

measurement of atmospheric conditions (e.g. precipitation, temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction)

interpretation of weather maps (e.g. symbols used, terminology, interpretation and forecasts)

historical and geographic comparison of weather data

scalar and vector wind speed and direction calculations

wind run

operation, calibration and maintenance of meteorological equipment

effects of instrument set-up, such as different sampling intervals and averaging times.