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Weather Instruments
Meteorologists use instruments to measure the properties of air.
Air has
• Temperature
• Precipitation
• Humidity
• Pressure
• Wind
Barometer
• Scientists use barometersto measure air pressure.
• The mass of air pressing down on us is 14.7pounds/square inch
• When air pressure is high, the day is clear. Low air pressure means bad weather.
Aneroid Barometer• Cell volume gets
smaller as
pressure increases
• Most common
for home use
How do these barometers
work?
72 Hour Barometer (inches)
Isobars (lines of constant pressure) on an air pressure map.
Psychrometer• To measure relative humidity scientists use a psychrometer.
• There are digital and sling psychrometers.
• Psychrometers and hygrometers measure relative humidity and dew point.
http://www.wildwildweather.com/humidity.htm
The number where the two measurements connect is the relative humidity. It is readin terms of %.
Thermometer
• Thermometers are used
to measure temperature.
• Temperature is measured
in degrees.
• The scale used is Celsius
or Farenheit.
Types of Thermometers
Anemometer
• An anemometer is usedto measure wind speed
• Air speed scale is writtenin miles/hour.
How do these anemometers work?
Wind Vane
• The wind vane tellsthe direction the wind is coming from.
• Direction is read N, S, E, W, NE, NW, SE, SW.
• Wind speed and direction are usually read together.
Rain Gauge
• The amount of rain is measured in inches.
NEXRAD
• New and improved Doppler radar system
• NEXRAD (acronym) for NEXt generation RADar
• Can “see” into thunderstorms to determine rain drops and wind rotation for possible tornado.
Weather Stations
http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/02/pr0212images.htm
The meteorologist brings it all together.
Show What You Know!
1. Name the instrument, what it measures, and its scale.
2. Name the instrument,property measured, and scale.
3. Name the instrument,property measured, and scale.
4. Name the instrument,property measured, and scale.
5. Name the instrument,property measured, and scale.
6. Name the instrument,property measured, and scale.
1. Name the instrument, what it measures, and its scale.
• Barometer• Air
pressure• Isobars
2. Name the instrument,property measured, and scale.
• Wind vane
• Wind direction
• North, south, east, west, NE,NW.SE,SW
3. Name the instrument,property measured, and scale.
• Hygrometer or psychrometer
• Humidity
• %
4. Name the instrument,property measured, and scale.
• Anemometer
• Wind speed
• Miles/hour
5. Name the instrument,property measured, and scale.
• Rain gauge
• Precipitation
• Inches
6. Name the instrument,property measured, and scale.
• Thermometer
• Air temperature
• Degrees Celsius
or Fahrenheit
7. Instrument, measuring?
• Doppler
• Storm data
What kind of meteorologist are you?
Resources
• http://www.wildwildweather.com/radar.htm
• http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/cld/cldtyp/home.rxml
• http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wfog.htm
• http://www.google.com/
