How
much will your gauge measure?
Weatherman Richard Angwin has some new toys - and he's prepared to
share his secrets so you can make your own weather-measuring instruments.
After
much persuasion, Mr Angwin has been allowed to buy a small Stevenson
Screen with weather instruments.
These
will be mounted on the roof of the BBC in Whiteladies Road, Bristol,
and used to monitor the local conditions.
Being
a total weather anorak, Richard was barely able to conceal his delight
at having access to maximum and minimum thermometers, a wet and
dry bulb thermometer and a rain gauge.
"You
can't begin to forecast the weather until you have observed it and
know exactly what has happened", he said.
"Good
science is all about good observations and making good weather observations
can be great fun."
Weather
instruments can be used to measure everything from rainfall to sunshine.
How
to...
Some
of these measuring devices are highly sophisticated with prices
to match.
But
it is possible to purchase relatively inexpensive and very useful
weather stations or individual instruments which can be read from
the comfort of your home.
"Rain
gauges which empty themselves and can be read whilst watching television
are my favourite." said Richard.
It
is also possible to make crude but effective weather instruments
yourself.
On Points West on Friday, Richard can be seen cutting an empty two
litre bottle of fizzy drink about one third of the way down.
 |
| The
master at work |
The
top part is inverted and placed in the bottom part.
This
is a good rain collector - the rain collected cannot evaporate.
The
outside of the container needs to be marked in centimetres and the
whole thing can be hung on a fence or shed using a wire coat hanger.
 |
| Richard
gauges his gauge |
The
hanger is wound around the base of the container and the hook is
hung somewhere away from overhanging trees and the eaves of any
houses.
A typical
year's rainfall in the Bristol area should yield around 70 centimetres
of rain.
How
much will your gauge measure?
by
Richard Angwin |
