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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

Required Skills

Required skills

Required skills include

planning and organising resources for field work

following legislative requirements standard methods enterprise procedures and instructions governing meteorological measurement

reading maps and aerial photos

collecting collating and recording simple meteorological information for a site

applying meteorological data to results from other environmental monitoring programs

using and maintaining equipment to obtain reliable measurements for required parameters

identifying and rectifying basic instrument faults

preparing brief oralwritten reports

seeking advice when issuesproblems are beyond scope of competenceresponsibility

working safely for the protection of self and others

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

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 pressuretemperaturevolume principles

high and low pressure cell formation

weather effects eg precipitation temperature and wind strengthdirection and interpretation of maps

local wind effects eg 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 eg precipitation temperature humidity wind speed and direction

weather maps eg symbols used terminology interpretation and forecasts

historical and geographic comparison of weather data

operation calibration and maintenance of meteorological equipment

scalar and vector wind speed and direction calculations

wind run

influence of different sampling intervals and averaging times

Evidence Required

Overview of assessment

Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include

explaining the purpose and objectives of the meteorological monitoring including

information and analysis required

end users of information

significance of outcomes for broader programs

planning and preparing for field work

interpreting and applying relevant enterprise procedures and standard methods

setting up checking and operating meteorological equipment to obtain sufficient measurements to ensure reliable data

accurately recording field data

assessing data quality and interpreting significant features and anomalies

using data to ensure validity of air and noise monitoring programs

working safely

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment

Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidates workplace

This unit of competency may be assessed with

MSSA Apply an understanding of environmental principles to a site

MSS024003A Apply an understanding of environmental principles to a site

MSSA series units associated with the monitoring of air odour and noise

MSS025000A series units associated with the monitoring of air, odour and noise

MSLA Undertake fieldbased remotesensing monitoring

MSL974009A Undertake field-based remote-sensing monitoring.

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team

Resources may include

access to suitable sites and vehicle

enterprise procedures governing siting and operation of meteorological measurements

maps and aerial photos

suitable meteorological measuring equipment

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of meteorological data results and measurement records prepared by the candidate

feedback from peers and supervisors that the candidate consistently follows enterprise procedures and works safely

oralwritten questioning associated with basic meteorology and infield measurement of meteorological parameters

observation of work carried out in the field with a focus on

identification of monitoring site according to defined criteria

safe reliable setup and operation of equipment

recording storing analysing and presenting basic meteorological data

In all cases practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly

Where applicable reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity age gender demographics and disability

The language literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a worklike environment

Guidance information for assessment


Range Statement

Codes of practice

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:

federal legislation, such as:

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Australian Heritage Council Act 2003

Native Title Act 1993

state/territory government legislation and regulations and local government by-laws, policies, and plans dealing with:

land use, acquisition, planning and protection

environmental protection

cultural/heritage protection

vegetation management

nature conservation and wildlife/plant protection

water and water management

soil conservation

pollution and contaminated sites

fisheries, forestry and mining operations

Australian and international standards, such as:

AS/NZS ISO 14000 Set:2005 Environmental management standards set

AS 2923:1987 Ambient air - Guide for measurement of horizontal wind for air quality applications

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

enterprise or regulator procedures for sampling and in-field testing

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

safe work procedures

Hazards may include

Hazards may include:

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

Siting and installation considerations for meteorological instrumentation

Siting and installation considerations for meteorological instrumentation may include:

topography

vegetation and built structures

exposure

availability of services

site security

Meteorological instrumentation

Meteorological instrumentation may include:

thermometers:

liquid in glass

thermocouples

Pt resistance

thermistors

hygrometers and psychrometers

barometers:

aneroid

mercury

anemometers:

rotational

pressure tube

Doppler

rain gauges:

manual

tipping bucket

automatic weather stations (AWS)

radiometers

net pyranometer

total solar radiometer

Meteorological parameters

Meteorological parameters may include:

temperature and temperature gradient

atmospheric pressure

humidity

precipitation

wind speed and direction (vector and scalar)

vertical wind speed

insolation and net radiation

evaporation

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements

OHS and environmental management requirements:

all operations must comply with enterprise OHS and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time

all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied

where relevant, users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health