Collecting

weather data - 1
Objective – essence of this class

You should be able to:

• describe how weather data is collected

• make calculations using information from weather instruments

• use and interpret graphs and other diagrams showing weather

and climate data
Weather and climate (1)

Weather:
• Short-term day-to-day changes in the atmosphere for a place;
condition of the atmosphere over a short period of time.
• The atmosphere could be calm or stormy.
Climate:
• The average weather conditions over a period of time – at least
30 year.
• Temperature and rainfall are shown on climate graphs.
• Climate regions cover large areas.
Weather and climate (2)
Class
activity 1:
Study the
statement
with each
photograph.
In Morocco, records Decide
Moscow, in Russia, will show that desert which one is
experience a cold and winds from the Sahara about the
cloudy night with heavy can cause weather and
snow, and temperatures temperatures easily which is
in the morning of around exceeding 40 °C on about
minus 16°C. average during the climate.
summer months.
The Stevenson Screen (1)
The screen should be sites in an open area away from trees or buildings so that
air can circulate freely and so that the screen is not shaded.
The screen stands on legs The four sides are made
which are a fixed distance of of wooden slats to allow
at least 125 cm from the air to flow freely in and
ground to avoid any heating out of the screen.
influence from the ground. It should be sited on level
It should be surrounded by a ground.
secure fence or other
security measures to avoid The screen is painted
damage by people and white to reflect sunlight.
animals.
It should be sited on grass or bare earth, not concrete or tarmac which can
absorb heat from the sun and re-radiate it upwards, affecting the temperature
readings inside the screen.
The Stevenson Screen (2)
The screen has a roof which prevents rain and direct heat affecting the
instrument s. The air space between roof layers is a bad conductor of heat.
The screen should be
The screen has a hinged door
sited away from any
for access .
artificial source of heat
When sited, the door of the such as central heating
screen should face away from from school buildings.
the sun so that the readings The screen’s dimensions
are not affected by direct vary but the most
sunlight, e.g. in the northern common size is 65 cm
hemisphere the door should high, 60 cm wide and 40
face north. cm deep.
Class activity 2: Choose the labels that relate to its structure.
• Choose the labels that relate to its location.
• Explain why locating a Stevenson Screen in the right place is important.
The Stevenson Screen (3)
• The Stevenson Screen is a wooden box designed to protect
weather measuring instruments from rainfall and direct heat.
• Screen contains thermometers which are hung from a frame in the
center of the screen. These are:
1. A max/min thermometer
2. A wet/dry bulb thermometer (a hygrometer)
• These measures maximum and minimum daily temperatures and
relative humidity.
• All temperature measurements are taken inside the screen to give
consistent readings in the shade.
• Sometimes, air pressure is also measured by putting a barometer
inside the screen.
 Measuring temperature (1)

• A thermometer that measures both

maximum and minimum temperature
is known as a Six’s thermometer.
• When the temperature rises, the
alcohol in the minimum
thermometer on the left expands.
• This pushes the metal index down
this tube and forces the mercury up
the right tube.
• This pushes the other metal index up
the tube on the right.
• The maximum temperature is read
Max-min
thermometer from the bottom of the metal index
in the right-hand tube.
 Measuring temperature (2)

When the temperature falls, the alcohol

in the left tube contracts.
This causes the mercury to flow in the
opposite direction, pushing the metal
index up the left-hand tube.
Because the temperature scale is
reversed, the minimum temperature is
read from the bottom of the metal
index in the left-hand tube.
• Both metal indexes stay where they
have been pushed and are reset
Max-min using a magnet.
thermometer
Measuring relative humidity (1)

• Humidity refers to the amount of water

vapor in the air.
• Relative humidity (RH) indicates the
amount of water vapor in the air relative
to the amount of water the air could hold
at that temperature.
• So, if the RH is 80% at a temperature of
30°C, the air is holding 0.8 of the water
vapor it could hold. (RH tables to calculate
is on the next slide.) When air can hold no
more water vapor it is saturated (RH is
100%).
• Any excess vapor then condenses to form
clouds, rain, mist or fog.
Wet-dry bulb thermometer
• The wet and dry bulb thermometer (a (hygrometer)
hygrometer) measures daily relative
humidity.
Measuring relative humidity (2)

• The hygrometer contains two • If the air was saturated, both

ordinary thermometers. thermometers would read the
• The bulb of one contains muslin, same.
which is dipped into a container of • The difference between the two
water to keep it damp. This is the readings is an indication of the
wet bulb thermometer. relative humidity (RH) of the air.
• The other thermometer on the left • If there is a small difference, the
is the dry bulb thermometer. RH is high and the air feels
• The wet muslin cools the wet bulb damp.
and this causes the mercury to • If there is a large difference, the
contract. RH is low and the air is dry.
• The dry bulb thermometer on the • The difference in temperature is
left records the maximum air known as the depression of the
temperature. wet bulb.
• The two thermometers show
Relative humidity
table
To determine relative
humidity:
Subtract the wet-bulb
temperature from the dry-
bulb temperature.
Find this number (the
difference in degrees) at the
top of the chart and place
your finger on it.
Find the dry-bulb
temperature in the first
column on the left. Place
your finger on it
• Bring your fingers down
the column and across
the row. The relative
humidity percentage
appears where column
Class activity (3)
Study the figure, which
shows data about
temperature and relative
humidity recorded at a
weather station in Darwin,
Australia over a period of 24
hours. Describe how the
temperature and relative
humidity changed over the
period of 24 hours shown in
the figure. Do not use
statistics in your answer.
Atmospheric pressure

Atmospheric pressure is the force exerted at any given

point on the Earth’s surface by the weight of the air above
that point.
Air molecules at higher altitudes have fewer molecules
pressing down on them from above and therefore
experience lower pressure, while lower molecules have
more force or pressure exerted on them by molecules
piled on top of them and are more tightly packed together.
• Atmospheric pressure is also known as barometric
pressure because it is measured using a barometer. A
rising barometer indicates increasing atmospheric
pressure and a falling barometer indicates decreasing
 How to use a mercury barometer to
measure air pressure:
• It comprises a narrow glass tube
closed at one end and open at
the other end, which is
submerged in a pool of mercury.
• The height of the mercury in the
tube changes as atmospheric
pressure changes; the
measurement of the mercury’s
Mercury height can in turn be calibrated to
barometer
accurately measure that
pressure.
How to use an aneroid barometer
to measure air pressure (1):
• Aneroid barometers measure air
pressure in millibars (mb).
• The pressure of air on the glass
moves levers which move a pointer
around a dial.
• If pressure is high on the glass, the
pointer moves around to HIGH.
• If pressure is low on the glass, the
pointer moves towards LOW.
• Most barometers have two pointers.
• An index pointer can be moved by a
central dial so the pressure from the
previous day can be fixed.
How to use an aneroid barometer
to measure air pressure (2):
• The other pointer moves with current
air pressure so a comparison can be
made.
• Average sea level pressure is set at
1000 mb.
• Above this is high pressure; below
this is low pressure.
• Many barometers also indicate the
weather expected, so
LOW = Rising air = Clouds and rain
HIGH = Sinking air = Clear, dry
weather
How is barometric pressure measured?

• The standard unit for measuring barometric pressure is

called an atmosphere (atm).
• 1 atm = 101,325 pascals (Pa)
• 1 atm = 1,013.25 hectopascals (hPa)
• 1 atm = 760 millimeters of mercury (mmHg)
• 1 atm = 29.9213 inches of mercury (inHg)
1 atm = 1,013.25 millibars (mbar)
Barometric pressure
conversion table
How pressure changes affect the weather
(1)
• Often, weather forecasters refer to high- or low-pressure
areas moving toward particular regions in order to
describe predicted conditions for those areas.
• As air rises in low-pressure systems, it cools and often
condenses into clouds and precipitation, resulting in
storms.
• In high-pressure systems, the air sinks toward the Earth
and warms upward, leading to dry and fair weather.
How pressure changes affect the weather
(2)
• In general, a barometer can let you know if your immediate future
will see clearing or stormy skies, or little change at all, based only
on atmospheric pressure. Here are a few examples of how to
interpret barometric readings:
• When the air is dry, cool, and pleasant, the barometer reading
rises.
• In general, a rising barometer means improving weather.
• In general, a falling barometer means worsening weather.
• When atmospheric pressure drops suddenly, this usually indicates
that a storm is on its way.
1. When atmospheric pressure remains steady, there will likely be
no immediate change in the weather.
How pressure changes affect the weather
(3)
Measuring high pressure (anticyclone)
A barometric reading over 30.20 inHg is generally considered high,
and high pressure is associated with clear skies and calm weather.
• If the reading is over 30.20 inHg (102268.9 Pa or 1022.689 mb):
• rising or steady pressure means continued fair weather.
• slowly falling pressure means fair weather.
1. rapidly falling pressure means cloudy and warmer conditions.
How pressure changes affect the weather
(4)
Measuring normal pressure
A barometric reading in the range of 29.80 and 30.20 inHg can be
considered normal, and normal pressure is associated with steady
weather.
• If the reading falls between 29.80 and 30.20 inHg (100914.4–
102268.9 Pa or 1022.689–1009.144 mb):
• rising or steady pressure means present conditions will continue
• slowly falling pressure means little change in the weather
1. rapidly falling pressure means that rain is likely, or snow if it is
cold enough
How pressure changes affect the weather
(5)
Measuring low pressure (depression)
A barometric reading below 29.80 inHg is generally considered low,
and low pressure is associated with warm air and rainstorms.
• If the reading is under 29.80 inHg (100914.4 Pa or 1009.144 mb):
• rising or steady pressure indicates clearing and cooler weather.
• slowly falling pressure indicates rain.
1. rapidly falling pressure indicates a storm is coming.
Class activity (4)

Describe the weather at the following atmospheric pressure: 992 mb, 996
mb, 1000 mb, 1004 mb, 1008 mb, 1012 mb, 1016 mb, 1020 mb, 1024
mb, 1028 mb and 1032 mb.
Note:
a. If the reading is over 30.20 inHg (102268.9 Pa or 1022.689 mb), the
atmospheric pressure is considered high, and high pressure is associated
with clear skies and calm weather.
b. If the reading falls between 29.80 and 30.20 inHg (100914.4 – 102268.9
Pa or 1022.689–1009.144 mb), the atmospheric pressure is considered
normal, and normal pressure is associated with steady weather
c. If the reading is under 29.80 inHg (100914.4 Pa or 1009.144 mb), the
atmospheric pressure is considered low, and low pressure is associated
with warm air and rainstorms.