Tools we use for weather prediction
- 2. (i) Air temperature (ii) Air pressure (iii) Wind Velocity (iv) Humidity (v) Precipitation (rain, snow hail etc.) (vi) Clouds (viii) Solar radiation
- 3. (i) Air temperature Thermometer thermometers measure the air temperature via the expansion or contraction of a liquid or a metal as the air temperature changes. Some thermometers contain red-colored alcohol, others contain mercury, while still others have a bimetal coil attached to a gauge. Thermographs An instrument that records temperature on graphing paper.
- 4. Barometer Types of barometer: o Mercury barometer----Barometers measure the air pressure, which is sometimes referred to as barometric pressure. The pressure of the air on the pool of mercury in the barometer causes the mercury to rise in a tube. We measure the height of mercury in the tube in inches. Aneroid barometers--- which don't contain mercury but have a small box inside instead. The air pressure on this box causes it to change shape, moving a needle on a gauge that indicates the air pressure. Normal air pressure readings vary from 28 to 31. Barograph a recording barometer.
- 5. Wind Vane Indicates wind direction. Anemometer measures wind speed. Made of propeller cups which are rotated by the wind’s motion. aerovane Indicates both the wind direction and speed or simply the ―wind velocity‖ Anemographs Records the variations of the wind velocity.
- 6. Psychometer—measures humidity consists of dry and wet-bulb thermometer Hair Hygrometer—uses human hair Hydrothermograph—records relative humidity and temperatureon a graphing paper.
- 7. Rain Gauge– a galvanized iron cylinder which is 20 cm in diameter. A rain gauge is a weather tool used to collect rain. Using measurements on the side of the rain gauge, you can see how many inches it rained.
- 8. Ceiling Light Projector-- uses a searchlight to project vertically a narrow beam of light onto a cloud base. The height of the cloud base is determined by using a clinometer, located at a known distance from the ceiling light, to measure the angle included by the illuminated spot on the cloud, the observer, and the ceiling light.
- 9. Pibal/Theodolite (Pilot Balloon Theodolite) Satellite imagery
- 10. Polar-Obtaining Satellites-- is an orbit in which a satellite passes above or nearly above both poles of the body being orbited on each revolution. Geostationary Meteorological Satellite (GMS)---- satellites hovering over the same spot on the equator. Pilot Balloon-- A small balloon used to determine wind velocity. Theodolite-- An optical instrument consisting of a small mounted telescope rotatable in horizontal and vertical planes, used to measure angles in surveying, meteorology, and navigation.