Meteorological instruments are divided into lower, middle, and upper atmosphere categories. Instruments include thermometers, barometers, rain gauges, anemometers, hygrometers, rockets, satellites, radiosondes, and ozone probes. These tools provide accurate data for weather forecasting, climatic data, temperature, water vapor, wind profiles, and pollution. Early humans used simple instruments, but modern meteorological instruments provide superior accuracy. Examples of instruments include mechanical and electrical thermometers, mercury and aneroid barometers, rain gauges, anemometers, and hygrometers. Rockets, satellites, radiosondes, and ozonesondes are used to study the atmosphere.
The different types of meteorological instruments are the instruments of the lower, middle and upper atmosphere. Instruments for the lower atmosphere include thermometers, barometers, rain gauges, anemometers and hygrometers. Rockets and satellites constitute the instruments of the middle atmosphere, while the instruments of the upper atmosphere are composed of radiosondes and ozone probes. Using the various meteorological tools, it is possible to acquire aggregate data for weather forecasting, averages of climatic data and data on temperature, water vapour, wind profiles and pollution.
Early humans made observations about the weather and climate mostly simply by looking at the sky. Simple instruments such as weather vanes were then invented, but they were only useful for measuring climatological data, not for measuring data for weather forecasting; these simple tools do not provide accurate measurements, which are essential for making weather forecasts. With the invention of modern meteorological instruments, however, quantitative measurements can now be made by professional meteorologists. Scientists agree that the accuracy of modern meteorological instruments is superior for measuring climate, atmospheric and weather forecast data.
The temperature measuring instrument called a thermometer is of two types: mechanical and electrical. Liquid-in-glass thermometers are mechanical, while resistance thermometers are electrical. Used to measure the weight of air, scientifically called atmospheric pressure, barometers can be classified as mercury, or those used in research laboratories, and aneroid, or those used in homes and weather stations. Calibration requires regular checking of an aneroid barometer against a mercury barometer. Additionally, an aneroid barometer can be turned into a recording instrument called a barograph by placing a pen over its pointer.
Considered the first of meteorological instruments, the rain gauge is an easy-to-build instrument that measures the amount of precipitation. In the 4th century BC, the earliest rainfall records were recorded in India, where it is believed that a network existed due to records of rainfall averages in different areas. Meanwhile, the wind speed measuring instrument called an anemometer has “cups” that rotate around a tree in the middle as the wind moves them. Humidity, or moisture content of the air, can be measured using a hygrometer. The two types of hygrometers used by meteorologists are the psychrometer and the absorption hygrometer.
A rocket is an internal combustion engine that carries its own fuel and oxidizer, which is why it can operate indoors and be used to study the Earth’s atmosphere. Examples of payloads, or meteorological instruments carried by rockets, include pressure and density sensors. Meanwhile, weather satellites are used by meteorologists to observe clouds and weather systems from above. The use of satellite data has led to more accurate weather forecasting.
Radiosondes are small radio transmitters developed to collect atmospheric measurements and transmit the collected data to weather stations on Earth. Earlier versions had a clock or windmill useful for instant data logging, while modern versions feature barometers, thermometers and hygrometers. Together with ozone-level measuring instruments called ozonesondes, radiosondes are carried into the atmosphere by an unmanned balloon.
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