Sea Level Scientist
Sea Level Scientist
Job Sector: Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics
Potential Salary (USD):
Low End: $40,000.00 /yr
Avg/Med: $85,000.00 /yr
High End: $160,000.00 /yr
Education Required:
- Bachelor of Environmental Science, or
- Master of Oceanography, or
- Master of Marine Biology or Affairs
Job Outlook:
The demand for Sea Level Scientists is expected to grow as climate change increasingly impacts coastal areas. Governments, research institutions, and NGOs are investing in climate resilience and adaptation projects, creating more opportunities for experts in this field.
Career Profile Overview:
Sea Level Scientists are specialized researchers who study the factors influencing changes in sea levels, including melting ice sheets, thermal expansion, and ocean currents. Their work is crucial in understanding the impact of climate change on coastal regions and predicting future risks such as flooding, erosion, and habitat loss. These scientists are also known as Marine Geologists, Paleoceanographers, or Paleoclimatologists and often look at past and current data to make assessments about the future.
Data Collection and Monitoring:
- Use satellite imagery, tide gauges, and remote sensing tools to track sea level changes.
Climate Modelling:
- Develop and refine climate models to predict future sea level scenarios.
Impact Assessment:
- Assess the effects of sea level rise on ecosystems, infrastructure, and communities.
Policy Development
- Provide scientific guidance for designing coastal protection strategies.
Educational Path:
- High School: Focus on advanced coursework in math, physics, environmental science, and computer science.
- Postsecondary: Required in fields such as oceanography, environmental science, or geophysics.
- Advanced Degrees: Often preferred for advanced research roles or academic positions. Specializations in climate science or hydrology are common.
Certifications:
- Proficiency in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing tools can be beneficial.
- Entry-Level:
- Environmental Technician:$40,000 – $55,000 annually (USD)
- Research Assistant:$45,000 – $60,000 annually (USD)
- GIS Analyst: $50,000 – $65,000 annually (USD)
- Mid-Level:
- Climate Scientist: $70,000 – $95,000 annually (USD)
- Coastal Engineer: $80,000 – $110,000 annually (USD)
- Marine Policy Specialist: $75,000 – $100,000 annually (USD)
- Senior-Level:
- Lead Oceanographer: $100,000 – $140,000 annually (USD)
- Climate Risk Manager: $110,000 – $150,000 annually (USD)
- Director of Coastal Resilience Programs: $120,000 – $160,000 annually (USD)
(Salaries can vary based on location, experience, and specific employer)
- Ability to interpret complex data sets and climate models.
- Expertise in GIS, remote sensing, and climate modeling software.
- Capable of explaining scientific findings to policymakers and the public.
- Works effectively in multidisciplinary teams involving scientists, engineers, and policymakers.
United States:
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography (University of California, San Diego)
- Programs: Bachelor’s and Master’s in Oceanography and Climate Science.
- Website: Scripps
- Columbia University
- Program: Master’s in Climate and Society
- Website: Columbia University
- University of Washington
- Program: Bachelor’s in Oceanography, Master’s in Marine Affairs.
- Website: U of Washington
Canada:
- University of British Columbia (UBC)
- Program: Bachelor’s in Environmental Science, Master’s in Oceanography.
- Website: UBC
- Dalhousie University
- Program: Bachelor’s and Master’s in Marine Biology.
- Website: Dalhousie
- University of Victoria (UVic)
- Program: Bachelor’s in Earth and Ocean Sciences, Climate Studies.
- Website: UVic
NASA Sea Level Change Team (N-SLCT)
The N-SLCT was established in 2014 with the goal of improving the understanding of regional relative sea-level change on a range of timescales. NASA sought to build an interdisciplinary team of scientists that can work in a collaborative environment and tackle these scientific challenges.
Contributions: The team is working on various projects like, “Contributions to Coastal Sea Level Extremes: Understanding the Past and Projecting the Future” and “Attributions of past regional sea level variations and projection of future sea level changes” to determine predictions of what the future might hold for our coastlines and environment.
Source: NASA
