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Weather Instruments
Predicting the Weather
o Importance
o Weather changes
o Storm / tornado warnings
o Everyday necessity
o Tools to Predict
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Thermometer
Barometer
Anemometer
Rain gauge
Weather vane
Hygrometer
Thermometer
• Measures the temperature in degrees
Celsius °C or degrees Fahrenheit °F
• Galileo invented the first thermometer
in the late 1600s.
• Gabriel Fahrenheit invented the first
reliable mercury thermometer in 1714
Temperature
• You will usually see temperature
measured in °F for maps of the United
States
• Maps of foreign countries will usually be
measured in °C
EdHeads’ Temperature Converter
Barometer
• Measures atmospheric pressure in
Millibars or Pounds per square inch (PSI)
• A barometer can also be used by pilots as
an altimeter, because as a pilot flies
upward, the pointer gives the altitude
above sea level.
• Changes in air pressure indicate changes in
weather patterns.
• The first barometer was made in 1643 by
Evangelista Torricelli, an Italian physicist
Anemometer
• Measures wind speed in miles per hour
(mph) or kilometers per hour (kph)
• In 1850, Dr. Thomas Romney Robinson
invented the anemometer that used
four metal cups.
Rain Gauge
• Measures the amount of rain in millimeters (mm) or
inches (in).
• Determine if your area is at risk of flooding
• In 1441 droughts plagued the Chosen Dynasty and
King Sejong directed every village to measure the
amount of rainfall,
hence the rain gauge
Weather Vane
• Measures wind direction by pointing towards North,
East, South or West
• The earliest recorded weather vane honored the Greek
god Triton, and adorned the Tower of the Winds in
Athens which was built by the astronomer Andronicus in
48 B.C.
• The word "vane" actually comes from the Anglo-Saxon
word "fane", meaning "flag".
• America's first documented weather vane maker was
Deacon Shem Drowne who created the famous
grasshopper vane atop Boston's Faneuil Hall in 1742
Hygrometer
• Measures the amount of humidity
• A hygrometer actually uses human hair
to tell how much humidity is in the air.
– It contains blonde human hairs
– As the relative humidity increases, the
hairs increase in length and operate the
recording mechanism.
Satellites
· Satellite images are used for seeing cloud
patterns and movements.
· For example, hurricane clouds and movement
can be observed using satellite images.
Radar
· Radar images can be used to detect cloud
cover, rainfall or storm location, intensity, and
movement, as well as the potential for severe
weather (for example, hurricanes or tornadoes).
A front is the boundary separating air masses of
different densities
 Fronts extend both vertically and
horizontally in the atmosphere
1.
• In U.S., cold fronts usually move from
northwest to southeast
• Air gets drier after a cold front moves
through
• In U.S., warm fronts usually move from
southwest to northeast
• Air gets more humid after a warm front
moves through
Stationary Front: When either a cold or
warm front stops moving
• When the front starts moving again it
returns to either being a cold or warm
front
• High pressure
causes air to sink
• Usually results in
several days of clear
sunny skies
• Air rises in low
pressure areas
and forms water
droplets
• Can results in
rain and storms
•High pressure systems usually signal more fair weather
with winds circulating around the system in a clockwise
direction.
•Low pressure systems with counterclockwise circulating
winds often result in rainy and/or stormy weather
conditions.
HEAVY
LIFT
Weather Map
Pressure & Temperature
Weather Symbols
• Each city in Arizona has a specific
weather forecast.
• Use the weather symbols to label the
map of Arizona.
Weather Symbols
• Used by meteorologists to forecast the
weather
• Helpful to predict weather and issue
warnings, watches, or advisories
• Can be seen on weather reports,
television, or in newspapers
• Are placed on weather maps.
Arizona’s Weather
o Flagstaff
o Tucson
o Kingman
o Phoenix
o Complete overcast
o Wind speed is 18-22
knots
o Thunderstorm
o Stationary front
o Stratocumulus clouds
o Grand Canyon
o Thin altostratus in
bands
o Wind speed is 1-2 knots
o Cloud cover is 2/10
o Low pressure
o Drizzle
o Overcast with
openings
o Calm winds
o Cumulus of fair
weather
o Lake Havasu City
o Stratocumulus clouds
o Warm Front
o High pressure
Grand Canyon
Kingman
Flagstaff
• Lake
Havasu City
H
Phoenix
Answers
Tucson
L
Arizona’s Weather
Create a map of Arizona that includes 15
different weather symbols.