[this is a response to Martin's reply to my earlier e-mail but my Pc crashed as
I was reading his reply so I lost the thread, as it were! ]

Martin, I accept completely your point about some people finding the maths
hard-going (I do speak from experience!). Also, I was not making a specific
point against the Met Office alone, merely speaking up for the fact that there
are some highly numerate geographers, especially now that geographical
information systems is such an important part of the subject. The subject (at
degree level) has changed hugely over the last decade and I do feel that a
(numerate) physical geographer can make a distinctive and valuable contribution
to met. organisations of all kinds, especially with an appropriate postgraduate
qualification. The argument has been going on for a long time, as you rightly
say; during this time, the subject has changed. Whether these changes have
rubbed off on all graduates is quite another matter though!

Julian

Julian Mayes, Molesey, Surrey.

"JJCMayes1" wrote in message
...
[this is a response to Martin's reply to my earlier e-mail but my Pc
crashed as
I was reading his reply so I lost the thread, as it were! ]

Martin, I accept completely your point about some people finding the
maths
hard-going (I do speak from experience!).

.... me too ;-)

Before I'm cast into the 'outer darkness' on this one, I should make it
clear that I absolutely *agree* with every word you wrote! My reference
in the main thread to 'up to and including a *relevant* degree course'
was intended to point out that a solid grounding in these is desirable -
indeed, a degree as such is not required, simply the understanding; for
mainstream atmospheric physics work, then the caveat does hold good, but
for many other branches of meteorology / climatology, your advice is
sound.

Following your input, I will change the appropriate Q/A in the FAQ to
reflect this ... originally, I had just linked to the particular page on
the R.Met.S web site which does a similar job, but perhaps we should
make it clear that understanding the intricate workings of the Binomial
theorem is not necessarily required!

Incidentally, this might be an appropriate subject for an article in
'Weather', exploring the many avenues for those wishing a career? As you
have pointed out, the scene has changed dramatically in, say, 20 years,
with the expansion of studies into climate change, both analysis and
impacts, and the growth of non-governmental weather services.

Martin.

Incidentally, this might be an appropriate subject for an article in
'Weather', exploring the many avenues for those wishing a career?

Martin,
Yes, I think that the editor of 'Weather' would view any such submission with
much interest :-) (as would the Royal Met Soc and the readers too). Now to
find an author....
Thanks for offering to adjust the FAQ.

Julian
Julian Mayes, Molesey, Surrey.