LESSON 12

WEATHER INSTRUMENTS

Overview:

The weather instruments scientists use today to measure temperature, air pressure, rainfall, and
other weather did not always exist. Before those instruments were created, people used observations of
the world and other measuring devices to record and predict weather. Meteorological instruments or
Weather instruments are the equipment used to find the state of the atmosphere at a given time. Each
science has its own unique sets of laboratory equipment. Meteorology, however, is a science which does
not use much laboratory equipment but relies more on on-site observation and remote sensing
equipment. In science, an observation, or observable, is an abstract idea that can be measured and for
which data can be taken. Rain was one of the first quantities to be measured historically. Two other
accurately measured weather-related variables are wind and humidity. Many attempts had been made
prior to the 15th century to construct adequate equipment to measure atmospheric variables.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon the completion of this module, the students will able to:

 Define what is Weather Instruments

 Identify the different types of Weather Instruments

 Explain how each instrument is used to measure weather

 Discuss why weather instrument is important

Materials Needed: Laptop , Google Meet and PowerPoint Presentation

Duration: 1hr and 30mins

Learning Content:

Weather Instruments is any device that measures weather-related conditions. Since there are a
wide variety of weather conditions that can be measured, there is a large assortment of weather
instruments available for many different purposes. You may already be familiar with common weather
instruments, like thermometers and wind vanes. But to get the full picture of the weather around us, we
need hygrometers, anemometers, barometers, rain gauges and sometimes even lightning detectors.
Oftentimes, multiple weather instruments are combined into a single product, known as a weather
station. By integrating multiple environmental measurements and a barometer, weather stations can
give you a thorough view of the conditions outdoors and also generate reliable weather forecasts.

Weather Instruments
A THERMOMETERS measure the high and low outdoor temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit
and degrees Celsius. Meteorologists first used liquid-in-glass thermometers in the late 1800s, but
they now use electronic maximum-minimum temperature sensor systems more frequently. The
newer systems use an electronic temperature sensor to measure and record high and low
temperatures.

A BAROMETER measure atmospheric pressure, providing the measurement in millibars. Under

most conditions, high and rising pressure indicates sunny weather, while low and falling pressure
indicates approaching rain. The traditional aneroid barometer first appeared in the 1840s. The
microbarograph also measures air pressure but records its continuous measurements on paper.

An ANEMOMETER measure the direction and speed of wind in miles per hour. A common type
of anemometer has three cups fixed to a mobile shaft. As the wind blows faster, the cups spin around
faster. The actual speed of the wind shows up on a dial. Another type of anemometer uses a propeller
instead of cups to accomplish the same function.
 A WIND SOCK used to tell wind speed and the direction of the wind. Windsocks typically are
used at airports to indicate the direction and strength of the wind to pilots and at chemical plants where
there is risk of gaseous leakage. They are sometimes located alongside highways at windy locations.

A WIND VANE is a piece of equipment that’s used to show the direction of the wind at any given
time. They are typically found on top of a building. A weather vane usually resembles an arrow shape,
with letters on it that indicate north, south, east, and west. The arrow rotates freely as a result of the wind
and points in the direction that the wind is coming from.

A WEATHER BALLOON (or sounding balloon) is a device that carries meteorological

instrumentation into the atmosphere. It consists of a radiosonde attached to a balloon that measures
temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind, and other data, which are sent back to a base station on Earth
for analysis.
 A HYGROMETER measure temperature and humidity using degrees Celsius and degrees
Fahrenheit. One type of hygrometer, called a sling psychrometer, uses one dry and one wet bulb
thermometer to measure the relative humidity of the air. Some older hygrometers used a sheaf of hair,
which increases in length as relative humidity increases.

A RAIN GAUGE the amount of rainfall. The standard rain gauge consists of a long, narrow
cylinder capable of measuring rainfall up to 8 inches. Many rain gauges measure precipitation in
millimeters, or to the nearest 100th of an inch. Other gauges collect the rain and weigh it, later
converting this measurement into inches.

A CLOUD MIRROR estimates the amount of cloud coverage in the sky. The percentage of the
cloud cover is visually estimated and expressed in oktas (eights of the sky covered in clouds).

A WEATHER MAP, also known as synoptic weather chart, displays various meteorological
features across a particular area at a particular point in time and has various symbols which all have
specific meanings. Maps using isotherms show temperature gradients, which can help locate weather
fronts.

A WEATHER SATELLITE is a man-made, electronic satellite which transmits information

about current weather patterns to the ground from space. Weather satellites regularly transmit a
variety of data which are used to forecast changes in climate and weather.

YOUR EYES are one of the best ways to help detect the weather. Always keep an eye at the sky
and you’ll usually be on top of weather conditions.

Why are weather instruments important?

Weather instruments allow meteorologists the ability to analyze and evaluate the data collected. This
data not only details weather over time, but it helps to predict future weather patterns. The weather data
gained from instruments allow meteorologists to track severe weather and assists with developing early
warning systems for those living in areas that are hit with severe weather. Weather instrument data
provides insight into how the world's climate is changing.

Students can utilize weather instruments and collect data to understand and determine patterns in
weather. The tools lend themselves to student generated characteristics of weather conditions and
assists them with tracking weather. Weather instruments are the beginning of student understanding of
weather data and bridge the gap to analyzing the data gathered from weather instruments. Students can
gain first hand experience with high tech weather instruments or construct their own weather instruments
in a weather unit of study.

Learning Activities:

Using An Anemometer

Wind is the horizontal movement of air. The instrument that is used to measure wind speed is
called an anemometer, an indicator that will spin in the wind. The anemometer rotates at the
same speed as the wind. It gives a direct measure of the speed of the wind. Hold the anemometer
in a place that has full access to the wind from all directions. Unlike the weather vane, it need not
be pointed into the wind to spin.

An anemometer has four cups which catch the wind and cause the anemometer to spin. The
inward curve of the cups receives most of the force of the wind. That's what makes the cups
move. The more spins per minute, the greater the wind velocity. Using the average student-made
anemometer, 10 turns per minute means the wind speed is about one mile per hour. Mount or
hold the anemometer in a place that has full access to the wind from all directions.

Using the Beaufort Wind Scale, wind velocity is measured on a scale of 0-12, based on visual
clues. Depending on the ability of students, it is probably sufficient that they recognize calm air,
and gentle, moderate, and strong breezes.

Students can use a simplified scale such as the following:

 Calm: Smoke goes straight up

 Light: Wind is felt on face; weather vanes turn, leaves rustle
 Moderate: Raises dust ; flags flap
 Strong: Large branches move; umbrellas turn inside out

For this activity, do the following:

1. Before you go outside: Mark one of the cups ; this will be the one they use for counting
when the anemometer spins.
2. Each group should appoint a time keeper who will be responsible for timing one minute
for each trial.
 3. Each group should appoint an official "counter" for the day. The others may count on
their own, but the counter's readings will be the ones recorded.
4. Each group should appoint a holder who will hold the anemometer while the spins are
counted; the holder should make sure that he holds the anemometer so that the wind is
unobstructed.

When you are outside:

1. Ask the students to describe the wind condition in words.

2. Students set up their anemometers.
3. They should make predictions as to how many times the anemometer will spin in one
minute.
4. When the time keeper says "Go" the counter in each group will count how many times
the marked cup passes them in one minute and write it down.

Note: Depending on the ability of the students, if possible, the students should make four counts
and record the average number of spins.

They can also multiply the average number of spins by 60 to find out how many times the
anemometer would spin in an hour and come up with a statement such as: the speed of the wind
today is about 1,000 spins per hour.

 Ask: Can you make a statement connecting the number of spins of your anemometer and
the speed of the wind?

At this time the teacher may choose to use the commercial anemometer. After the mph have been
determined, the students can make a statement relating their findings to the actual wind velocity.
For example: When our anemometer read 20 spins a minute, the commercial anemometer read 2
miles per hour.

Tell the students that they will be counting how many times their anemometer spins under
different wind conditions.

Learning Evaluation:

MULTIPLE CHOICE

Instructions: Circle the letter of the best answer to each questions.

1. This weather instrument measures air pressure.

A. Wind vane

B. Barometer
 C. Rain Gauge

D. Anemometer

2. This type of weather instrument measures air temperature.

A. Wind vane

B. Barometer

C. Thermometer

D. Anemometer

3. This type of weather instrument measures wind direction.

A. Wind vane
B. Barometer
C. Rain gauge
D. Anemometer

4. This type of weather instrument measures winds speed.

A. Wind vane
B. Barometer
C. Rain gauge
D. Anemometer

5. This type of instrument measures the amount of precipitation.

A. Wind vane
B. Barometer
C. Rain gauge
D. Anemometer

6. This type of instrument measures North, South, East, or West.

A. Wind vane
B. Barometer
C. Hygrometer
D. Anemometer
7. This type of instrument measures in degrees Celsius.

A. Wind vane
B. Barometer
C. Thermometer
D. Anemometer

8. This type of instrument measures in miles per hour.

A. Wind vane
B. Barometer
C. Rain gauge
D. Anemometer

9. These two instruments measure in centimeters or inches.

A. Barometer and thermometer

B. Barometer and rain gauge
C. Anemometer and rain gauge
D. Wind vane and barometer
10. This type of instrument measures in degrees Fahrenheit.

A. Wind vane
B. Rain gauge
C. Anemometer
D. Thermometer
11.What instrument is used to collect and measure the amount of rain in a
localized area?
A. Rain Gauge
B. Thermometer
C. Wind Vane
D. Compass

12.Which device traditionally looked like a rooster, but more commonly looks
like an arrow to point to a direction?
A. Wind Vane
 B. Psychrometer
C. Barometer
D. Anemometer
13.Which device measure the percentage of humidity in the air?
A. Thermometer
B. Barometer
C. Psychrometer or Hygrometer
D. Anemometer
14.An instrument released into the atmosphere that records temperature,
pressure, humidity, wind speed, and direction. Data is sent by radio to
monitoring stations on the ground.
A. Psychrometer
B. Weather Balloon (radiosonde)
C. Hair Hygrometer
D. Thermometer
15.Instrument based on the change in length of horse hair responding to
changes in humidity.
A. Psychrometer
B. Hair Hygrometer
C. Thermometer
D. Air pressure
16.Which information can you get from a weather map?
A. The locations of cold fronts
B. A 5-day weather forecast
C. Wind speeds and directions
D. Barometric pressure

ESSAY
Directions: Read the question very carefully and explain the following questions below.

1. Why do meteorologists use weather instruments?

2. What are the weather instruments and what are they used for?

3. How are weather balloons and compasses used to measure weather?

4. What is the importance of weather instruments?

References:

http://www.weatherwizkids.com/?page_id=82

https://www.acurite.com/blog/weather-instruments.html

https://sciencing.com/weather-instruments-uses-8013246.html

http://bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/learning-tools/weather-instruments

https://sites.google.com/a/apps.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/weather-instruments/
Prepared by: MACALNAS, MISHAIRA M.