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Laboratory Exercise No. 1

AGROMETEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATION PRACTICES

Introduction:
(Make your individual introduction)
a field of study which deals with the relationship between domestic plants and animals and the
typical environment. The elements of the physical environment referred to include not only the
atmosphere but also the soil and water. In general, the objectives for agrometeorological investigations
are to minimize agri-business losses due to unfavourable weather conditions and optimally utilize micro-
climate for agricultural purposes.

Objectives:
To acquaint the students with:
1. The functions of an agrometeorological station.
2. The principle of operation of the different meteorological instruments.
3. Some agrometeorological observation practices.

Procedure:
This exercise involves a guided tour at nearby Agromet Weather Station/ Agromet (If none,
research). Write down all your observation particularly with respect to the meteorological instruments
found in the station, their relative location, installation and exposure and the methodology by which
agrometeorological data are recorded.

Questions:
a. Function and Layout
1. Identify the various function of the National Agrometeorological
station.
2. Sketch the agrometeorological station plan indicating the relative
location of the different agrometeorological instruments.
b. Describe the principle of operation of the following instruments:
1. Pressure - measuring instruments
2. Temperature - measuring instruments
3. Humidity - measuring instruments
4. Precipitation - measuring instruments
5. Evaporation - measuring instruments
6. Sunshine - measuring instruments
7. Wind - measuring instruments

c. Observation Practices:
1. What time of the day are weather observations made in
agrometeorological stations in the Philippines? Why? Itemize each
weather element and give the time of observation.
2. Maximum and minimum thermometers as well as sling
psychrometer is usually housed in an instrument shelter. Briefly
describe the construction of the shelter with emphasis on color of
paint, materials used, height above the ground and the direction of
the door opening. Give the reasons for this practice and convention.
3. Why are barometers installed inside rather than outside the
building?
4. Why the rainfall measurements is expressed in terms of depth and
not in volume?
 5. Why are evaporation measurements in class A pans made in a still
well and not in the pan itself?
6. Why is it that there are three grooves used as card holder in a
Cambell-stroke sunshine recorder?
7. Discuss briefly the proper exposure of the wind vane and
anemometer.
d. Problems:
1. Empty cylinder cans that can be used to measure rainfall at any
point in a given area. Assuming you need a 10 cm diameter
receiving can to catch rainfall in your locality and poured the
collected amount into another can. What should be the diameter of
the measuring can (in cm) so that it is equivalent to rainfall amount
using standard rain gauge? If 5 cm was collected in the receiving
can, how much will it be as equivalent depth in the measuring can?

2. If 4.50 mm rainfall was measured by a rain gauge located at the

center of a one hectare farm, how much water in cubic meters was
received in the farm assuming uniform rainfall distribution over the
area?

3. On the following days, the following observations were taken:

Time Hook gauge reading 8” Std Rain gauge readings

July 6 (8:00 am) 81.4 0.8
(2:00 pm) 78.6 0.0
July 7 (8:00 am) 81.0 3.2

a. What is the total pan evaporation (mm) on July 6?

b. Daily total rainfall on the same day?