Measuring Weather

LO: To know the purpose of the following

instruments and how to use them.

Stevenson Screen
Rain Gauge
Barometers
Wind Vane
Anemometer
Sixs Thermometer (Maximum-Minimum
Thermometer)
Hygrometer (Wet and dry bulb thermometer)
Task one
a) What is a Stevenson's screen
b) Make a list of instruments you may find in a
Stevensons screen
c) Where would you locate a Stevensons screen and
why?
Task Two
For the following instruments you need to use your handout to:
Rain Gauge
Barometers
Wind Vane
Anemometer
Sixs Thermometer (Maximum-Minimum Thermometer)
Hygrometer (Wet and dry bulb thermometer)
write what it measures and a brief description, instructions on
how to locate it.
Temperature
Max Min Thermometer
Sixs Thermometer
Max-Mercury
Min-Alcohol
Measures shade
temperature (Stevensons
screen)
Read off at bottom of the
index (reset with magnet)
Read at eye level
Measured in C
Humidity

Wet/Dry Bulb thermometer
Hygrometer
Wick and reservoir of water

Comparison tables
1. Calculate depression of wet
bulb (Dry Wet)
2. Read off table

Measures in shade
(Stevensons screen)
Units = % Relative humidity
Wind Speed
Anemometer
Cups or blades

Clear unobstructed
location

Km per hour

Wind Direction
Wind Vane
Recorded on Wind Rose

Compass Directions
Beaufort Scale.
Another way of measuring wind speed by looking at the
effect of wind on the environment.
Wind
Force
Description
Speed
Specifications
kph knots
0 Calm 0 0 Smoke rises vertically
1 Light Air 1-5 1-3 Direction shown by smoke drift but not by wind vanes
2 Light Breeze 6-11 4-6 Wind felt on face; leaves rustle; wind vane moved by wind
3 Gentle Breeze 12-19 7-10 Leaves and small twigs in constant motion; light flags extended
4
Moderate
Breeze
20-28 11-16 Raises dust and loose paper; small branches moved.
5 Fresh Breeze 29-38 17-21
Small trees in leaf begin to sway; crested wavelets form on inland
waters.
6 Strong Breeze 38-49 22-27
Large branches in motion; whistling heard in telegraph wires;
umbrellas used with difficulty.
7 Near Gale 50-61 28-33
Whole trees in motion; inconvenience felt when walking against the
wind.
8 Gale 62-74 34-40 Twigs break off trees; generally impedes progress.
9 Strong Gale 75-88 41-47 Slight structural damage (chimney pots and slates removed).
10 Storm 89-102 48-55
Seldom experienced inland; trees uprooted; considerable structural
damage
11 Violent Storm 103-117 56-63 Very rarely experienced; accompanied by widespread damage.
12 Hurricane
118
plus
64 plus Devastation
Air Pressure

Aneoid Barometer






Barograph
Plots changes in pressure

Millibars
Measured in shade
(Stevensons screen)


Rainfall
Rain gauge

Siting factors
Clear view of sky
Recessed into ground
Approx 30cm above
ground
Grassy surface (avoid
splash back)
Read off at eye level

Regular intervals
(24hours)
Sunshine

Sunshine recorder
Burns a timeline
Traces sun shine not
hours of daylight

Glass ball focuses
light
Burns line onto card

Units = Hours
Cloud Cover Chart
Cloud Mirror
Divide mirror into 16
equal squares
Lay mirror on ground
with clear view of sky
Estimate cover

Units = Oktas
Stevensons Screen
Houses temperature /
humidity /pressure
instruments
Features
Insulated roof
Painted white to reflect
heat
Louvered (slatted)
sides aid air circulation
Located 1.25-2m
above ground
Locate in safe place
Locate away from
buildings or trees
Cloud over Chart
Different cloud types are a sign
of different weather conditions.
Certain cloud types will produce
rain such as Nimbostratus and
Cumulonimbus.
Others show a warm front,
which will bring rain, is
approaching such as
Altostratus.
LO: Describe the main types of cloud and be
able to estimate the extent of cloud cover.

Pg 87 of handout
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMagDRCpJ14
Cloud cover is measured in Oktas or Eighths. Today there are
_______ Oktas (or Eighths) of cloud.
We know there are many different types of cloud, because
not all cloud looks the same.
You might see more
than one of these
types of clouds in the
sky all at once.
These are the main types of cloud:
Cirrus clouds are wispy, like a lock of
hair, and are high up.
Cumulus means heap, cumulus clouds
look a bit like cotton wool balls
Stratus clouds are layers, and are
middle to low clouds.
Cumulonimbus clouds are tall and dense,
usually resulting in rain or storms.
Any cloud with the word cirro or cirrus is a high cloud.
Any cloud with the word alto in it is about in the middle.
Any cloud with nimbo or nimbus added onto it means it is
producing precipitation.
Add labels to your diagram of the clouds.
Cumulus
Cumulonimbus



Cumulonimbus
Cumulus
Cirrus
Stratus
Cumulus
Stratus
Cirrus
Cumulus
Cirrus
Stratus
Cumulonimbus
Cumulus
Cirrus
Now answer the following questions:

1. What are clouds?
2. What is cloud cover measured in?
3. What are the three main cloud types?
4. What name do high level clouds begin with?
5. What types of clouds does convectional rainfall cause?


Type of Cloud Appearance Altitude (height)
Cumulo-nimbus
=Thunderheads
Can cause lightning, thunder, hail, strong
rains, strong winds, and tornadoes
Near ground up to 75,000 feet
(Vertical clouds)
Cirro-stratus Thin, wispy, appears in sheets. Located
above thunderheads
Above 18,000 feet
(High-altitude clouds)
Cirrus Thin, wispy, filamentous, or curly Above 18,000 feet
(High-altitude clouds)
Cirro-cumulus Small, puffy, patchy and/or with a wavelike
appearance
Above 18,000 feet
(High-altitude clouds)
Alto-cumulus Medium-sized puffy, patchy, scattered
clouds - often in linear bands
6,500 - 20,000 feet
(Middle-altitude clouds)
Alto-stratus Thin, uniform 6,500 - 20,000 feet
(Middle-Alttude clouds)
Strato-cumulus Broad and flat on the bottom, puffy on top, Below 6,500 feet
(Low-altitude clouds)
Cumulus Puffy and piled up. Below 6,500 feet
(Vertical clouds)
Stratus Uniform, flat, thick to thin layered clouds
will ill-defined edges
Below 6,500 feet
(Low-altitude clouds)
Nimbo-stratus Uniform, dark, flat, low, featureless clouds
that produce precipitation
Below 6,500 feet
(Low-altitude clouds)
alto-cumulus - Middle-level, medium-sized puffy clouds.
alto-stratus - Middle-level, layered clouds.
cirro-cumulus - High-altitude, small, wispy, patchy, puffy
clouds.
cirro-stratus - High-altitude, thin, wispy clouds in layers.
cirrus - High-altitude, thin, wispy clouds.
cumulo-nimbus- Large, dense, towering clouds that cause
thunderstorms.
cumulus - Low, puffy clouds.
fog - Ground-hugging clouds.
nimbo-stratus - Low, dark, rain cloud.
stratus - Low, layered, horizontal, wispy clouds with a flat
base.
strato-cumulus - Low clouds, broad and flat on the bottom,
puffy on top (higher than cumulus and lower than altocumulus