Meteorological Instruments and their uses.

Submitted by:Yuvan Shashivernam

Submitted to:Mrs.Preet Kaur
Grade:9
Section:A
School:Chrysalis High
 Acknowledgement
I would like to express my special thanks of
gratitude to my teacher Mrs.Preet Kaur as
well as our principal Mrs.Sukanya Maity who
gave me the golden opportunity to do this
wonderful project on the topic
(Meteorological Instruments and their uses),
which also helped me in doing a lot of
Research and I came to know about so many
new things I am really thankful to them.
Secondly I would also like to thank my parents
and friends who helped me a lot in finalizing
this project within the limited time frame.
 Index
Sr.no. Topic Page No.
1. Introduction 1
2. Executive 2
Summary
3. Six’s 3-4
Maximumand
Minimum
Thermometer
4. Mercury 5-6
Barometer
5. Aneroid 7-8
Barometer
6. Wind vane 9-10
7. Anemometer 11-12
8. Rain Gauge 13-15
9. Hygrometer 15-16
10. Conclusion 17
11. Bibliography 18
 Introduction
The instruments and equipment used to
measure and record the values of
meteorological elements are meteorological
instruments. The instruments are designed to
function under natural conditions in any
climatic zone. Consequently they must
operate reliably, give stable readings over a
wide temperature range and under conditions
of high humidity and high precipitation, and
be unaffected by high wind and dust. To make
the results of the measurements taken at the
various weather stations comparable, the
instruments are of the same types and are set
up in such a way that their readings are
independent of incidental local conditions.
 Executive Summary
This Project is a brief study about meteorological
instruments and meteorology.The 7 main instruments
in this project are the Six’s maximum and minimum
thermometer, mercury barometer, aneroid barometer,
wind vane,anemometer, rain gauge and
hygrometer.The instruments are briefly described with
who found them,the working of the instrument,it’s
uses and some facts about it
 Six's maximum and minimum thermometer
Six's maximum and minimum thermometer is used for
measuring the day's maximum and minimum temperature. It
was invented by Englishman James Six in 1782.
It is used to record extreme temperatures at a location as in
meteorology, horticulture etc.
They can be used to measure air temperatures and recording
data over a period of time means that changes in the climate
could be observed.The temperatures are shown both in
Centigrade and Fahrenheit.
Water temperature is an important factor for determining
evaporation rates since the energy needed to evaporate
warmer water is lesser than that for cooler water. Six’s
thermometer is also used to measure this.
Six’s thermometer is also popularly used by gardeners in
greenhouses to plan care for plants better.
It consists of a U-shaped capillary tube with bulbs at both
ends. The bend of the U-tube is filled with mercury. One of
the bulbs is completely filled with alcohol and the other bulb
is partly filled with alcohol. The space in the bulb partly filled
with alcohol is initially a vacuum. The thermometric liquid is
alcohol, whose expansion and contraction allow the change
in temperature to be recorded. Just above the mercury are
two dumbbell-shaped steel indices, which are kept in place
by tiny steel springs. The two dumbbell-shaped steel indices
are reset to their initial positions just above the mercury by
means of a horse-shoe magnet.
 Maximum Temperature
Due to a rise in the temperature during the day, the alcohol
in the completely-filled bulb expands and exerts a pressure
on the mercury. The mercury moves toward the partly-filled
bulb and pushes up the index in the capillary closer to the
partly-filled bulb. Thus, the index closer to the partly-filled
bulb records the maximum temperature.

Minimum Temperature
Due to a fall in the temperature during the night, the alcohol
in the completely-filled bulb contracts. The mercury moves
toward the completely-filled bulb and pushes up the index in
the capillary closer to the completely-filled bulb. Thus, the
index closer to the completely-filled bulb records the
minimum temperature.
 Mercury Barometer
The mercury barometer is the oldest type of
barometer, invented by the Italian physicist Evangelista
Torricelli in 1643.A mercury or a simple barometer is a
scientific instrument used in meteorology to measure
atmospheric pressure. A simple barometer consists of
a long glass tube (closed at one end, open at the other)
filled with mercury and turned upside down into a
container of mercury. The barometer works by
balancing the mercury in the glass tube against the
outside air pressure, just like a set of scales. The
vacuum formed above the column of mercury is known
as Torricelian Vacuum. As air pressure increases—that
is, as the air becomes heavier—it pushes more of the
mercury up into the tube. As air pressure decreases,
more of the mercury drains from the tube. So the level
of mercury in the tube provides a precise measure of
air pressure.

So,it helps in measuring the atmospheric pressure and

also determining the altitude of a place,Weather
Forecasting,Calibration and checking of aneroid
barometers,Application in Fluid
Mechanics,Measurement of pressure in
aircrafts,Surface Weather Analysis,Preparation of
 Barographs and it’s used in Physical sciences like
Physics, Astronomy & Chemistry.Although it’s not the
standard barometer these days but sometimes it is
used in preparation of aircraft altimeters.
 Aneroid Barometer
An aneroid barometer is an instrument for measuring
pressure as a method that does not involve liquid.
Invented in 1844 by French scientist Lucien Vidi,the
aneroid barometer uses a small, flexible metal box
called an aneroid cell (capsule), which is made from an
alloy of beryllium and copper. The evacuated capsule
(or usually more capsules) is prevented from collapsing
by a strong spring. Small changes in external air
pressure cause the cell to expand or contract. This
expansion and contraction drives mechanical levers
such that the tiny movements of the capsule are
amplified and displayed on the face of the aneroid
barometer. Many models include a manually set
needle which is used to mark the current measurement
so a change can be seen. In addition, the mechanism is
made deliberately "stiff" so that tapping the barometer
reveals whether the pressure is rising or falling as the
pointer moves. This type of barometer is common in
homes and in recreational boats but also used in
meteorology, mostly as barograph and pressure
instruments in radiosondes.
 Wind Vane
A wind vane is a device that measures the direction of
the flow of wind. It
has a rotating ornament that points the direction at
the top of the rod. It consists of a small globe at the
top of the rod and a bigger one at the bottom of the
rod. A direction pointer that indicates north, South,
East, West is fixed to the rod between the two globes.
We should position the wind vane high enough to
avoid wind interference from objects, buildings, and
trees. We can station them at the top of the tower or
poles that are on the roof of a building. We have to
choose the highest point for the device.
A wind vane always points in the direction from which
wind is coming. If the wind is flowing from East, the
arrow will point to the east. We can predict some
weather changes with the wind direction, like – If the
device rotates from West to East, this indicates that
pressure is low and stormy weather is overhead.
If direction changes from south to south-west, we can
predict that warmer air is coming. If the wind vane
starts fluctuating, this means the wind is unstable and
current weather is about to change.
It is used as a decorative addition to tall buildings and
 it is often used to provide a visual backup to the
weather.
Meteorologist use it to predict weather patterns.They
are commonly adhered to boats as a navigational
device.A simple wind vane can be helpful during sailing
and golfing.
 Anemometer
An anemometer is an instrument used to measure the
speed of the wind, which is a common weather station
instrument, or to calculate any form of current gas. The
term is derived from the Greek word ‘anemos’
meaning wind which was first explained by Leon
Battista Alberti who was an Italian artist and an
architect in the year 1450. He used a mechanical
anemometer which was placed perpendicular to the
wind direction such that the wind velocity as indicated
by the angle of inclination of the disc. The most
common type of anemometer has three or four cups
attached to horizontal arms. The arms are attached to
a vertical rod. As the wind blows, the cups rotate,
making the rod spin. The stronger the wind blows, the
faster the rod spins. The anemometer counts the
number of rotations, or turns, which is used to
calculate wind speed. Because wind speeds are not
consistent—there are gusts and lulls—wind speed is
usually averaged over a short period of time.
Other than measuring the speed of the wind, the
anemometer is used for the following purposes:

-To measure the wind pressure

 -To measure the flow of the wind
-To measure the direction of the wind
-It is used by the drone users or RC plane users to
check the weather conditions before testing their
devices
-Also used by long-range shooters and pilots
-Used by skydivers to evaluate wind velocity before
they leap into the abyss
-Used in aerodynamics to measure the airspeed
 Rain Gauge
A rain gauge is an instrument used by meteorologists
and hydrologists to measure precipitation (e.g. rain,
snow, hail or sleet) in a certain amount of time. It is
usually measured in millimetres. Rain gauge is a
meteorological instrument for determining the depth
of precipitation (usually in mm) that occurs over a unit
area (usually one metre square) and thus measuring
rainfall amount. One millimetre of measured
precipitation is the equivalent to one litre of rainfall
per metre square.
Measuring rainfall amounts is done primarily with rain
gauges that work in three different ways. The three
major types of rain gauges are the standard gauge,
tipping bucket gauge and weighing gauge. Further
distinguishing aspects such as how they are set up and
how they deliver data can be made, though the basic
operation of rain gauges does not usually vary from
these primary rain gauge types.

Standard Rain Gauge

Recording of rainfall using the standard or funnel rain
gauge is generally done manually. These gauges work
by catching the falling rain in a funnel-shaped collector
that is attached to a measuring tube. According to the
Spokane National Weather Service office, these tubes
are usually 8 inches and have been in use for more
than a century. The diameter of the collector is 10
times that of the tube; thus, the rain gauge works by
magnifying the liquid by a factor of 10. Magnifying the
rain in this way allows precise measurements down to
one-hundredth of an inch. Amounts that exceed the
tube capacity are caught in the outer shell of the
gauge, allowing the recorder to pour out the liquid in
the tube and fill it back up if needed.

Tipping Bucket Rain Gauge

Operation of a tipping bucket rain gauge is quite
different from the standard gauge. The receiving
funnel leads to one of two small buckets. Filling of one
bucket occurs at one-hundredth of an inch. The result
is a "tipping" of the liquid into the outer shell of the
gauge, triggering the second bucket to takes it place.
The process then repeats itself. Allowing for precise
measurement of rainfall intensity and amount, this
gauge has become standard for wireless weather
stations. According to "Essentials of Meteorology" by
C. Donald Ahrens, "Each time a bucket tips, an electric
contact is made, causing a pen to register a mark. ..."
Today, wireless digital tipping bucket gauges are very
common, but they still use the same basic technology.

Weighing Rain Gauge

According to the Albany, New York National Weather
Service office, the universal weighing rain gauge is
optimal for climatology use. This is because of a
vacuum that accounts for the effects of wind, allowing
more rain to enter the gauge. These gauges are very
precise in measuring rainfall intensity as the weighing
mechanism at the bottom of the collector can be used
to measure depth and time simultaneously. Recording
is carried out much in the same way as the older
versions of the tipping bucket gauges
 Hygrometer
A hygrometer is a weather instrument used to measure
the amount of humidity in the atmosphere. There are
two main types of hygrometers -- a dry and wet bulb
psychrometer and a mechanical hygrometer.
Wet and dry bulb psychrometers are the most simple
and common way of measuring humidity. This type of
hygrometer uses two basic mercury thermometers,
one with a wet bulb one with a dry bulb. Evaporation
from the water on the wet bulb causes its temperature
reading to drop, causing it to show a lower
temperature than the dry bulb.

Relative humidity is calculated by comparing the

readings using a calculation table that compares the
ambient temperature (the temperature given by the
dry bulb) to the difference in temperatures between
the two thermometers.

A mechanical hygrometer uses a slightly more complex

system, based on one of the first hygrometers
designed in 1783 by Horace Bénédict de Saussure. This
system uses an organic material (usually human hair)
that expands and contracts as a result of the
 surrounding humidity (that also explains why you
always seem to have a bad hair day when it’s hot and
humid!). The organic material is held under slight
tension by a spring, which is linked to a needle gauge
that indicates the level of humidity based on how the
hair has moved.
 Conclusion
Meteorological tools are the types of equipment
utilized to examine the nature of the atmosphere at a
given time. Every science has its individual
unprecedented collections of lab facilities.
Meteorology, however, is a physics which does not
apply much lab devices but emphasize more on on-site
measurement and remote sensing devices. In science,
an investigation, or noticeable, is an intellectual
concept that can be estimated and for which data can
be obtained. The rain was one among the fundamental
quantities who was estimated using this instrument.
Two other perfectly estimated weather-related
variables was humidity and wind which was known as
the most important tools to estimate atmospheric
variables.
 Bibliography
1. https://byjus.com/physics/anemometer/
2. https://www.toppr.com/guides/chemistry/enviro
nmental-chemistry/wind-vane/
3. https://brainly.in
4. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/
5. www.nextgurukul.in
6. https://aapt.scitation.org
7. www.britannica.com
8. https://sciencing.com