• The atmospheric pressure on a given surface is the weight

of the overlying column of air (A) per unit area extending up

to the outer limit of the atmosphere.
• For meteorological purposes, the atmospheric pressure is
measured by means of mercurial or an aneroid barometer,
in hectopascal.
• The station pressure is the atmospheric pressure at the
established elevation of the station.
• Established elevation of a station is that elevation at or
above mean sea level, to which all pressure observations are
reduced.

1
 ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE

Up to the upper limits

of the atmosphere

Unit used is
Column of air per cross-sectional area “hectopascal” (hPa)
acting on the barometer numerically equal to
Millibars.

Ivory (fiducial)
point

Station Elevation

Mean Sea Level

Hg BAROMETER Egs/02-28-02
 At STP the HT
At STP the height of Hg from the
of Hg from the
tube is 76 cm or 760 mm
Tube is 76 cm

3
Aneroid Barometer

0 0

0 0

Barograph
Mercurial Barometer
 VERNIER

KNOB FOR VERNIER

ATTACHEDTHERMO

IVORY POINT

CISTERN SCREW

5
• Read the attached thermometer to the nearest 0.5 degree Celsius (0.5°C);
• Tap the barometer lightly with the fingers at about the middle of the
frame;
• Turn the thumbscrew at the bottom of the barometer until the surface of
the mercury in the cistern touches the tip of the ivory point. The tip of the
ivory point should coincide with its image formed on the surface of the
mercury in the cistern. If a dimple forms on the surface, the mercury in
the cistern has been raised too far. Contact of the mercury with the ivory
point is seen more easily against a white background;
• Set the vernier (movable scale) so that the base casts off light at the
highest point of the meniscus at the top of the mercury column. The
meniscus is the curved upper surface of the mercury column. The front
and the rear sighting edges of the base of the vernier coincide when they
are at level with the eye. A white background is helpful when making this
adjustment of the vernier;

6
• Lower the mercury about 1 cm from the ivory point;
• Read the scales and vernier to the nearest 0.1 hPa; and,
• If provided, keep the cover of the barometer cabinet closed at all times,
except when reading the barometer.

7
35
Step 1
30 Read the
25 attached
20
20
thermometer to
15 the nearest (0.5)
10 degree Celsius.

EGSalazar
Step 2
Tap the
barometer at
about the
middle of the
frame.
EGSalazar
Ivory
Point
Step 3
Turn the thumbscrew
at the bottom of the
barometer counter-
Cistern clockwise until the
surface of the mercury
in the cistern touches
the tip of the ivory
point.

EGSalazar
1030

Step 4
0.5
1025
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
Movable Vernier
Set the vernier
(movable scale) so
0.5
0.5

that the base casts

1020 Meniscus

1015 off light at the

1010
highest point of the
meniscus at the top
1005
of the mercury
column.
EGSalazar
 Step 5
Lower the surface
of the mercury in
1cm the cistern about 1
cm from the ivory
point by turning the
thumbscrew as
indicated in the
picture.
EGSalazar
VERNIER READING

SCALE: 1014.0
VERNIER: 0.9
TOTAL : 1014.9

VERNIER
SCALE

13
 Elements Evaluated Indoors:

SCALE: 1015.0 SCALE: 1011.0 SCALE: 1005.0

VERNIER: 0.0 VERNIER: 0.7 VERNIER: 0.1
TOTAL: 1015.0 TOTAL: 1011.7 TOTAL: 1005.1

EGS may 2003