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Here is a brief description of the more common instruments and supplies. A barometer measures the atmospheric pressure. What is that? Air pressure is force per unit area, given in units such as pounds per square inch. Every square inch. People who get barometric pressure headaches know what effects small pressure changes can create. Because every inch of their bodies is affected equally by these changes. Other pressure sensors, such as
barometric pressure transducers,
exhibit the same sensitivity. Outdoor thermometers measure air temperature and give us numerical values in degrees. Everyone knows what temperature is, right? That is the degree of hotness or coldness you feel. Temperature recording weather equipment stores these numbers for us. What about Humidity?It's the amount of vaporized water in the air.How do you measure Humidity? A Hygrometer. Also known as a psychrometer humidity meter. Temperature is shown on two thermometers. One of which is kept wet and the other dry. Then we can compare the two, calculate and chart the dew point. How does wind energy work?Wind moves objects around, and then we can use the motion to determine which way the air moves and how fast. We normally use things likes flags, wind socks and weather vanes.Research weather vanes and comparable kinetic motion toys point the direction of air flow. Wind speed instruments are called anemometers. By putting these two values together, we obtain a vector quantity. What is that? One that requires at least two inputs, speed and direction in this case. Wind data loggers record this information. Next comes rain gauges - How much rain (or snow) did we get last night? What does this number mean? Remote SensingSome devices let us look at weather conditions from far away. In preparing forecast information, weather services use these data sources along with figures from surface-based weather equipment.Radiosonde - A package of temperature and humidity recorders put together with a few other instruments. They are placed in a box with a transmitter and locator to send weather information back to earth by radio signals. We attach the package to a weather balloon, let it fly and record these parameters at
various elevations
and even hundreds of miles downwind. Think you can do better
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What does a hygrometer measure
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Stevensons Screen
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Thermometer
Not rated yet These are the only machines that give us information from outside of the atmosphere. Doppler Weather Radar - A radar that can also tell which way things are moving and how fast. Very useful for finding speeding cars and preparing an advisory - a severe weather forecast which helps storm chasers pinpoint tornadoes, tornados and other strong winds. Pilots will also describe weather they encounter during their flights. The weather reports they view before takeoff cannot tell everything. So when they see something unusual, they send pilot reports, PIREPs. Want to see some official observations, made using scientific and electronic weather equipment like the items listed above? Look at a METAR. This article tells you how to read a METAR. All the different kinds of weather equipment are enough to even make Bill Nye's head spin. If you wish to keep updated on this stuff and related concepts, physical science articles and the science of meteorology, have a look at Blowin' in the Wind, a newsletter on the subject. You might read something interesting. #1 Build your own website business. Receive a free course on how to do so here. Finally, Search this site for more information now. |
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