Measuring
Lower and
Upper
Atmospheric
Conditions
By: Ashley Noah
Measuring
LowerAtmospheric
Conditions
Air Temperature
 instrument
that measures and indicates
temperature is called a thermometer.
 When the temperature rises it causes the
liquid to expand and rise in the tube.
 Electrical thermometer-the electric
current that flows through the material
which is translated into temperature
readings.
Air Pressure
 Changes
in air pressure affect air masses
 Barometers measure atmospheric
pressure
 A drop in air pressure usually is indicated
by a front approaching.
Wind Speed
 Anemometer
measures wind speed
 Anemometer is usually consists of small
cups that are attached by spokes to a
shaft that rotates freely
 The anemometer works by when the wind
pushes against the cups and causes them
to rotate.
Wind Direction
 Wind
Vane determines the direction of
wind
 Wind Vane is commonly an arrow-shaped
instrument that turns freely on a pole as
the tail catches the wind.
 Wind direction can be described by using
compass directions or by degrees
Measuring
UpperAtmospheric
Conditions
Radiosonde
 Radiosonde
is an instrument package
that is carried high into the atmosphere
by weather balloon to measure humidity,
air pressure and air temperature
 Radiosonde sends measurements as radio
waves to a receiver that records the
information.
Radar
 Radar-instrument
for determining weather
conditions in the atmosphere
 Radar stands for Radio Detection And
Ranging
 Uses radio waves to determine velocity
and location of objects
Weather Satellites
 Weather
satellites collect important
information about the atmosphere
 The direction and speed of the wind at
the level of the clouds can be measured
by examining a continuous sequence of
cloud images
Computers
 Meteorologists
use supercomputers to
figure out the weather or by solving the
math equations that describe the
behavior of the atmosphere
 Data can provide information that is
useful in forecasting weather changes
 Computers may greatly improve weather
forecasts