Meterological Instruments

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1. Meteorological instruments  are the equipment used to sample the state of the atmosphere at a given time. A meteorological station  is a facility, either on land or sea, with instruments and equipment for measuring atmospheric conditions to provide information for weather forecasts and to study the weather and climate.

2. ANEMOMETER An  anemometer  is a device used for measuring the speed of wind . It is a common weather station instrument. The measurement units for Anemometers include: Feet per  minute  ( ft /min), meters per second (m/s), kilometers per hour (km/ hr ), miles per hour ( mph ), nautical miles per hour (knots), and Beauforts .

3. BAROMETER A  barometer  is a scientific instrument used in meteorology to measure atmospheric pressure . The most common unit of measurement used in barometers is the millibar ( mb ) , pounds per square inch, pascals and inches of mercury.

4. CEILOMETER A  ceilometer  is a device that uses a laser or other light source to determine the height of a cloud base and overall cloud thickness . UNIT: It is traditionally expressed either in meters or as a pressure difference in hectopascal.

5. DISDROMETER A  disdrometer  is an instrument used to measure the drop size distribution and velocity of falling raindrops .  The main application is to determine the size, speed, and number of raindrops. With disdrometer the meteorologist differ raindrops from graupel and hail. Drop size: mm Velocity: m/sec

6. HYGROMETER A  hygrometer  is an instrument used for measuring the moisture content in the atmosphere. milliliters per cubic centimeter. Alternatively, some  hygrometers measure  relative humidity, which is expressed as a percentage with no  units .

7. NEPHELOMETER A  nephelometer  is an instrument  for measuring   concentration of suspended particles in a liquid or gas colloid. Used for air quality measurement for pollution monitoring, climate monitoring, and visibility.  In the United States environmental monitoring the turbidity standard unit is called  Nephelometric Turbidity Units ( NTU ), while the international standard unit is called Formazin Nephelometric Unit ( FNU ). The most generally applicable unit is Formazin Turbidity Unit ( FTU )

8. RAIN GAUGE A  rain gauge  is an instrument used by meteorologists and hydrologists to gather and measure the amount of liquid precipitation  over a set period of time. UNIT: mm

9. SNOW GAUGE A  snow gauge  is a type of instrument used by meteorologists and hydrologists to gather and  measure  the amount of solid precipitation over a set period of time. UNIT:  The depth of snow is normally measured in  centimetres , the measurement of melted snow (water equivalent) is in  millimetres .

10. SOLARIMETER A  solarimeter  is a pyranometer , a type of measuring device used to measure combined direct and diffuse solar radiation . An integrating  solarimeter  measures energy developed from solar radiation based on the absorption of heat by a black body.  UNIT: W/m²

11. THERMOMETER The thermometer is a device for measuring the temperature . The thermometers are using various physical properties such as thermal expansion of gases, liquids or solids to determine the current temperature.   UNIT: Celsius, Fahrenheit, and kelvin.

12. WIND PROFILER A  wind profiler  is a type of weather observing equipment that uses radar or sound waves to detect the  wind speed and direction at various elevations above the ground.  The variables measured from wind direction and speed is useful to meteorological forecasting and timely reporting for flight planning.  m/s mph degree

13. WIND VANE A   wind vane  is an instrument for showing the  direction of the wind . They are typically used as an architectural ornament to the highest point of a building. A traditional weather or wind vane has no units of measure. It has East, West, South, and North, it just shows you which direction the wind is blowing

14. PAN EVAPORATION Pan evaporation  is a measurement that combines or integrates the effects of several climate elements : temperature, humidity, rain fall, drought dispersion, solar radiation, and wind. Pan evaporation measurements enable farmers and ranchers to understand how much water their crops will need. Evaporation is measured by measuring the depth of water . Its unit is mm

15. SUNSHINE RECORDER A  sunshine recorder  is a device that records the amount of  sunshine  at a given location. The results provide information about the weather and climate as well as the temperature of a geographical area. UNIT: It is measured in minutes, and hours. kWh/m 2

16. STORM GLASS The liquid within the glass is a mixture of several ingredients, most commonly distilled water, ethanol, potassium nitrate, ammonium chloride, and camphor. If the liquid in the glass is clear , the weather will be bright and clear. If the liquid is cloudy , the weather will be cloudy as well, perhaps with precipitation. If there are small dots in the liquid, humid or foggy weather can be expected. If the liquid contains small stars on sunny winter days, then snow is coming. If there are crystals at the bottom, this indicates frost. If there are threads near the top, it will be windy.

17. KONISCOPE A koniscope  (or  coniscope ) is a scientific instrument to detect and measure content of  dust particles in the atmosphere.  A koniscope is also called  dust counter.  UNIT: µm in diameter

18.  FIELD MILL A  field mill  is a specialized instrument used for measuring the strength of electrical fields in the atmosphere near thunderstorm clouds. They are also used in outdoor laboratories for lightening protection equipment to determine favorable experiment conditions. The SI unit of electric field strength is  newtons  per coulomb (N/C) or volts per meter (V/m).

19.  ANEMOSCOPE An  anemoscope  is a device invented to show the direction of the wind , or to foretell a change of wind direction or weather. m/s, km/h, ft /min, mph, KNOT are used as measuring units .

20.  THERMOSCOPE A  thermoscope  is a device that shows changes in temperature . A typical design is a tube in which a liquid rises and falls as the temperature changes. UNIT: Celsius, Fahrenheit, and kelvin.

21.  PYRANOMETER A  pyranometer  is an instrument that measures the total amount of sunlight reaching a horizontal plane on Earth's surface. This quantity is called "insolation.“ UNIT: Watts per square meter (W/m 2 )

22. WINDSOCK A windsock is a cone-shaped bag with an opening at both ends. When it is limp, winds are light; when it is stretched out, winds are strong. Pilots can quickly determine the wind direction and speed along a runway just by observing the shape and direction of a windsock.

23. HAIL PADS Hail pads measure the size of hail that falls during a storm. A standard hail pad consists of florist's foam and aluminum foil. The falling hail strikes the foil and creates dimples for the observer to measure after the storm.   UNIT: Inches

24. PSYCHROMETER An instrument for determining atmospheric humidity by the reading of two thermometers, the bulb of one being kept moist and ventilated. UNIT: Percent (%) moisture held in the air.

25. LIDAR Lidar uses ultraviolet, visible, or near infrared light to image objects . It can target a wide range of materials, including non-metallic objects, rocks, rain, chemical compounds, aerosols, clouds and even single molecules. A narrow laser-beam can map physical features with very high resolutions UNIT:  µm , nm

26. ALL SKYCAM All skycam is a stand-alone Astro and weather video device enclosed in a weather proof dome that provides wide view at the entire sky.  The cameras fisheye lens gives you a 180 degree view from horizon to horizon.

27. WEATHER BALLOON A  weather  or  sounding balloon  is a balloon which carries instruments aloft to send back information on  atmospheric pressure ,  temperature ,  humidity  and wind speed by means of a small, expendable measuring device called a  radiosonde . There is no unit . Basically the balloon is tracked over a day and measure the wind speed by radiosonde.

28. RADIOSONDE A  radiosonde  is a battery-powered telemetry  instrument  package carried into the atmosphere usually by a  weather   balloon that measures various atmospheric parameters and transmits them by radio to a ground receiver. UNIT: Hectopascal for pressure, degree Celsius for temperature and percentage for humidity.

29. CEILING PROJECTOR The  ceiling projector  or cloud searchlight is used to measure the height of the base of clouds (called the ceiling) above the ground UNIT: ft , m

30. DOPPLER RADAR A  Doppler radar  is a specialized radar that uses the Doppler effect to produce velocity data about objects at a distance. UNIT: m/s, km/ hr

31. PYRHELIOMETER A  pyrheliometer  is an instrument for measurement of direct beam solar irradiance (power per unit area received from the Sun.) Sunlight enters the instrument through a window and is directed onto a thermopile which converts heat to an electrical signal that can be recorded. UNIT: The signal voltage is converted via a formula to measure watts per square meter.

32. Meteorological Instruments Thermometer Use for measuring the temperature . Unit: Degree Centigrade (C°) Degree Fahrenheit (F°) Ceilometer Ceilometer use for measuring the cloud height and thickness. Unit: Meter (m) Feet ( ft )

33. CONT…….. Fiel mill Use for measure the strength of electrical field in the atmosphere near thunderstorm clouds. Unit: newton per coulomb (N/C) volts per meter (V/M) Rain Gauge Use for measuring the rain fall in any area. Unit: centimeter or inches or millimeter

34. Ceiling projector The   ceiling projector  or  cloud searchlight   is used to measure the height of the base of clouds (called the ceiling ) above the ground Unit: ft , m Anemometer Use for measuring the speed of wind. Unit: km/ hr CONT……..

35. Barometer Use for measuring the atmospheric pressure. Unit: hector- pascal ( hPa ), Millibar ( mb ), inch (in) Snow Gauge Use for measuring the solid precipitation over a set period of time. Unit: millimeter (mm) CONT……..

36. Hygrometer Use for measure the relative humidity of air in percentage. Unit : percentage have no unit Disdrometer Use for measuring the rain drop size distribution , velocity, kinetic energy, intensity . Unit : mm/h , mm , m/s CONT……..

37. Wind profiler A wind profiler is a type of weather observing equipment that use radar or sound waves to detect the wind speed and direction of various elevation above the ground. Unit: km/ hr or km Koniscope Use to detect and measure the content of dust Particles in the atmosphere. Unit micrometer in diameter CONT……..

38. Stromglass Observing the liquid in the Stromglass was suppose to indicate change in the weather .if the liquid in the glass was clear ,the weather would be clear and bright. Composition 2.5g potassium nitrate and ammonium chloride , 33ml distilled water , 40ml of methanol and 10g of camphor . CONT……..

39. Evaporation pan Use to measure the combine and integrate effect of several climate elements;temperature,humidity ,rain fall, drought dispersion, solar radiation , wind Unit: D egree Celsius, P ercentage, Millimeter, w/m 2 Anemoscope Anemoscope is a contrivance for indicating and recording the direction of the wind; also, a device intended to foretell change in the weather. CONT……..

40. Thermoscope Use to measure the change in temperature of a substance by noting change in the volume of the substance without numerical scale. Nephelometer Use for measure the conc. Of suspended particulates In liquid or gas colloid. Unit: Turbidity standard unit (NTU) Formazin Nephelometric unit (FNU) CONT……..

41. Wind vane Wind vane are also refered to as weather vanes , science when the wind change direction ,it often brings a change in weather. Solarimeter Use to measuring combine and diffuse solar radiation through a surface. Unit: w/m 2 CONT……..

42. Sunshine recorder Use to record the amount of sunshine in hours of bright at a given location. The result provide information about the weather , climate as well as the temperature of a geographical area. Unit: Kwh/(m 2 day) CONT……..

43.   P yranometer A   pyranometer  is an instrument that measures the total amount of sunlight reaching a horizontal plane on Earth's surface . This quantity is called "insolation . Unit: Watts per square meter (W/m 2 ) Anemograph  A graph connected to the dials records the wind  speeds and directions on a continuous basis for  a monthly period.  Unit : km/ hr CONT……..

44. Thermograph Thermograph consists of a bi‐metallic spiral coils  and uncoils with changes in temperature. This  action causes movement of an attached pen.  This is a chart that is changed on a weekly basis.  Unit: Degree Centigrade (C°) Degree Fahrenheit (F °) windsock S ock aligns in wind flow and changes shape depending on wind speed ( qualitatively). CONT……..

45. Radio Sonde Small instrument package (temperature, pressure, relative humidity) connected to a balloon filled e.g. with helium. The balloons usually burst at about 30 km. Data is sent to ground via radio transmission . Unit: Hectopascal , degree Celsius, percentage Doppler Radar (Doppler mode, velocity mode) using the Doppler effect, the direction and speed of precipitation can be determined in m/s CONT……..

46. Pyrheliometer use for measuring direct sunshine two manganin strips, one is heated by the sun, the other electrically until they have the same temperature. The current needed is proportional to the incoming short wave radiation. Unit: watts per square meter CONT……..

47. Hail pads Hail pads measure the size of hail that falls during a storm. A standard hail pad consists of florist's foam and aluminum foil. The falling hail strikes the foil and creates dimples for the observer to measure after the storm. Unit: inches CONT……..

48. Psychrometer A psychrometer is used to measure humidity or moisture in the air . Unit: Percent (%) moisture held in the air . Compass A  compass  is a navigational instrument for finding directions. CONT……..