Introduction: Weather Stations

Weather is the condition of the atmosphere around us.

Weather consists of several elements which can be recorded. Most of these elements can be recorded on specific instruments found in weather stations.

Weather stations contain many different thermometers including: -

Soil and grass thermometers
Maximum-minimum thermometers
Wet and dry bulb thermometers (which record the amount of moisture in the air)

They are usually placed out in the open on grass so that rain gauges can be put in the ground. They are not usually situated on tarmac or concrete because these surfaces can radiate heat up and effect remperature readings.

Visibility and cloud cover are also measured, not on instruments, but by observation.

Information on weather conditions is gathered from weather stations all over Britain and abroad. Similarly, readings are taken at sea and from high in the atmosphere. All this information is sent, via computer, to the meteorological offices in Bracknell where it is collated, made into weather maps, synoptic charts and weather reports.

Measuring Elements

You will need to learn the information in the table below and recognise pictures of the instruments.

Element	Instrument	Unit	Location
Temperature	Thermometer	°C	Inside Stevenson Screen
Precipitation	Rain Gauge	mm	Dug into ground
Sunshine	Sunshine Recorder	hours	High on pedestal
Air Pressure	Barograph	mb	Kept indoors, or in Stevenson Screen
Wind direction	Wind vane	N, S, etc.	High above the ground
Wind speed	Anemometer	km/hr or knots	High above the ground