Local and personal weather monitoring starts with the right sensors, meters and equipment; Essentially, a lot of weather instruments. The wide variety of meteorological instruments available today can seem overwhelming, but JXCT is here to help!
What Are Weather Instruments?
A weather instrument 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. Multiple weather instruments are often combined into a single product, known as a weather station. By integrating multiple environmental measurement tools and a barometer, weather stations can give you a thorough view of the conditions outdoors and also generate reliable weather forecasts. This article explains the various types of weather instruments, how they work, and ultimately how they can benefit you on a day-to-day basis.
Importance of Personal Weather Instruments
Personal weather stations provide accurate conditions for your exact location. Perhaps you have a garden and need precise tracking of rainfall? Maybe a warning about impending frost would help you extend your growing season, or give you time to cover up your fragile annuals? Advance notice about high winds would tell you to bring your child’s soccer goal inside before it blows down the street. And it goes without saying that the TV weather can’t monitor air conditions indoors in places like your garage, home, attic, or basement.
6 Types of Weather Instruments
Before deciding which is the best weather station for your needs, it’s important to gain a general understanding of the types of weather instruments, how they work and what they do.
1、Anemometers
An anemometer is any device that measures wind speed. The first wind measuring devices were invented centuries ago, and several varieties of anemometers have been developed over the years. These various designs have incorporated cups, propellers an even sonic sensors.
2、Wind Vanes
A wind vane indicates the direction the wind is blowing. For example, it can let you know wind is coming out of the Southeast, and then shifts direction to the East.
3、Barometers
A barometer measures atmospheric pressure. As with other weather instruments, many different barometer designs have been developed over the centuries. The most common types historically have been mercury (also known as Torricellian barometer) and aneroid barometer.
4、Hygrometers
A hygrometer measures humidity. Over the years, methods of measuring humidity have included twisted fibers, wet cloths covering thermometer bulbs and even pine cones.
5、Rain Gauges
A rain gauge measures rainfall over a period of time.
6、Thermometers
A thermometer measures temperature.