About Weather Instruments

Throughout history, predicting weather has been critical to people's safety.

Weather plays a determining role in the world. Weather within arctic and Antarctic regions provides extreme cold, while weather in deserts causes heat that can soar toward 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The weather in an area is a major factor in what types of plants and animals thrive in the region. With the many types and facets of weather, several instruments have been invented that allow people to understand weather more thoroughly--some point out the current condition, while others help predict potential storms.

Wind Vane

Some weather instruments are extremely simple and can even be made in a crude-form at home. Wind vanes tell the direction of the wind. They are comprised of simple mechanical components; a vertical shaft holds the device into place, while the top horizontal piece can rotate 360 degrees--pointing in the direction the wind is blowing. The top piece often looks like an arrow.

Thermometer

Perhaps the most basic type of weather instrument found in the homes of most Americans is the thermometer. This instrument reads the basic external temperature of its environment. Most thermometers display temperatures in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. The majority of thermometers utilize mercury's ability to expand and contract based on different temperatures. Thermometers date back to the invention of the "water thermometer" in the 16th century by Galileo.

Barometer

Invented in Italy in 1643, barometers measure the degree of air pressure. Air pressure significantly changes during storms, making it an excellent prediction instrument. A low air pressure--or more importantly, a "fall" in air pressure--signifies either wet or stormy environmental conditions. Alternatively, a high--or "rise" in air pressure--signifies dry conditions, usually accompanied by sunshine.

Weather Balloons

Some instruments pose as multi-purpose tools. Weather balloons--first invented in 1783--are unmanned craft designed to float into the atmosphere, subsequently collecting weather data. Today, weather balloons commonly drift as high as the troposphere. Weather balloons help make more informed and accurate weather predictions, collecting an assortment of data, ranging from humidity and temperature to air pressure conditions over large regions.

References

• Encyclopedia: Weather Balloon
• Galaxy: Make a Wind Vane
• Maps of World: Thermometer
• Weather Wiz Kids: Weather Instruments