Malaysian Maritime Academy- Seamanship/May 2003
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INSTRUMENT USED TO MEASURE PRESSURE a) The Mercury Barometer
A simple barometer made consist of a 1-meter high glass tube completely and filled with mercury closed at one end. The open end is immersed in a cistern also contains mercury, and the tube is held upright. The mercury column falls, leaving a vacuum at the top, which is also known, as Torriceli Vacuum. Until the weight of the mercury column above level of the mercury in the cistern just balances the atmospheric pressure which is exerted on the free surface of the mercury in the cistern.
Glas s Torriceli Vacuum Mercury Atmospheric Pressure Cistern Errors and Corrections for Mercurial Barometer Error No 1. Height. All readings should be corrected to sea level. Increase of height means a decrease in pressure by approximately 1hPa for every 10 meters. 2. Corrections
3.
4. 5.
Correction for height is obtainable from tables on board the vessel or using the Gold Slide scale attached to the barometer. Temperature. Column of mercury will expand with an Correction is added if actual increase in temperature and contract with a decrease in temperature is below standard and temperature by approximately 1 hPa for 6 absolute subtracted if it is above standard temperature. temperature Latitude. The earth is somewhat flattened at the pole, All readings should be corrected for hence the mercury weights more at the poles than at the the mean latitude of 45. The equator. Therefore for equal atmospheric pressure, the correction is subtracted for latitude 0 barometer will appear to read less at the poles than at to 44 and added for latitude 46 to the equator 90. Rate of change is approximately 1 hPa for every 12 of latitude Capillarity. The mercury, due to it density will form a The correct readings to be taken at the meniscus top of the meniscus. Capacity. Height of mercury column should be Adjusting the graduations of the scale measured from the level of the mercury in the cistern. built in by the manufacturer If the pressure falls, the mercury in the column drops compensates this error. and the level in the cistern rise and vice versa. Therefore this means that the zero if the scale changes
Malaysian Maritime Academy- Seamanship/May 2003
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6. 7.
with pressure. Observation Error (Parallax) Index Error
8.
Pumping Error. Movement of the ship, gusts of wind, and vibrations on the ship causes the level of the mercury to move up and down and hence an error in readings.
All readings should be taken at eye level to avoid this error. Determined by meteorological office after comparison is made with other pressure-measuring instrument and is stated on each instrument. If pumping error is present, the mean of the highest and lowest reading should be taken.
The Gold Slide --- Gives a rapid means of getting the latitude, height and temperature corrections. To use the slide, set the height of the barometer above sea level against the latitude and read off the correction opposite the top of the mercury in the thermometer. ANEROID BAROMETER The main component is a vacuum box. which is partially exhausted of air. An increase of atmospheric pressure compresses this box causing the pointer on the dial (via the lever system) to register a higher pressure. The converse occurs with the decrease of pressure. As there is no mercury in this barometer there are no corrections for latitude or temperature, but a height and index corrections must be applied. In some instruments there is an adjustment screw at the back of the instrument, to take out any index error. The greater the area of the vacuum box the greater the accuracy of the instrument. It is usual to give the barometer a light tap before taking any reading; this helps to free the fine chain, which may stick if pressure changes are only small.
Malaysian Maritime Academy- Seamanship/May 2003
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PRECISION ANEROID BAROMETER
This instrument in simpler to transport and to read whilst temperature correction is unnecessary. Height corrections can be built in by resetting the datum on the instrument. A pressure choke can be attached, if rapid height variation is expected. It works on the same principle as the aneroid barometer. The heart of this instrument is the Pressure Pile or commonly named the capsule, which causes the variations in air pressure. The difference between aneroid and precision aneroid barometer is the means of transmitting the change in air pressure to a reading. The movement of the capsule causes the capsule contact to move towards or away from the contact arm, If the contact is broken the magic eye shows this and in the instant at which to take the reading. At the instant of taking the reading the capsule is only under atmospheric pressure as there is no load or pressure on it from the contact arm.
Malaysian Maritime Academy- Seamanship/May 2003
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BAROGRAPH This is a recording barometer; the lever system connects the vacuum pile to a pen arm, which makes a mark on the chart on the drum, which is driven by clockwork. The drum is wound and the chart changed weekly. The prime purpose of the barograph is to record the pressure tendency, which would be impossible to observe with the mercurial or aneroid barometer unless an observer was detailed to record the pressure every 10 minutes or so.
