Purpose of Weather Instruments
For over a hundred years basic weather or meteorological instruments have been in existence. They have been used to observe and analyze the weather and weather patterns. The advent of the telegraph helped advance meteorology in the 19th century as it allowed weather observations to be collected and analyzed. The next logical step was the forecasting of weather. Data gathered by weather instruments is used to predict and warn of approaching storms, hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding. The use of weather instruments in this way can ultimately save lives.
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Thermometers and Barometers
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The purpose of a thermometer is to measure air temperature. Thermometers are made of glass tubes that enclose a liquid. The liquid, which is either mercury or alcohol, expands when it is heated as the air around it becomes warmer. This expansion causes the liquid to move up inside the glass tube. The temperature is shown on the calibrated scale.
A barometer's purpose is to measure the rise and fall of air pressure. When the pressure rises, you can expect dry and sunny weather conditions. When barometric pressure falls you can expect wet and stormy weather.
Weather Balloons
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Weather balloons are important in measuring conditions higher up in the atmosphere. They are filled with helium and released into the air. Attached to the bottom of a weather balloon is a small device that is known as a radiosonde. When the balloon rises up into the air the radiosonde records and transmits measurements of air pressure, wind speed and direction, as well as air pressure, humidity and temperature. Scientists can use this data to work out the longitude and latitude of the balloon as well as the dew point. The balloon eventually bursts because of the pressure changes it encounters as it ascends. The radiosonde tumbles back to the Earth's surface.
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Rain Gauges
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A rain gauge is used for the purpose of measuring the quantity of rain that falls over a designated period of time. For thousands of years people have attempted to measure rainfall. In ancient China, the Chou dynasty measured rainfall over 3,000 years ago. The earliest modern rain gauge was devised by an inventor by the name of Christopher Wren in 1662, while the rain gauge invented by Reverend Horsley of Great Britain was the one that set the standard for many years. The purpose of a rain gauge is to establish how much rain falls in a 24-hour period.
Anemometer
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While a wind vane is designed specifically to determine wind direction, an anemometer serves to measure the speed of the wind as well as the pressure. It has small cups that catch the wind and turn a dial which indicates wind speed. The name comes from anemos, the Greek word for wind.
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References
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