MEASURING ELEMENTS OF WEATHER

THERMOMETER

• A thermometer is an instrument that measures and displays temperature
• A common thermometer uses liquid such as alcohol or mercury
• As air gets warmer, the liquid expands, rising in the tube
• When air gets cooler, the liquid contracts and fills less of the tube
• Celsius (C) or Fahrenheit (F)

RAIN GAUGE

• Rain is measured with a rain gauge
• A wide opening or funnel at the top of the gauge collects rain
• Rain flows into the cylinder
• Amount of fallen rain in measured in centimeters

WIND VANE

• A wind vane measures wind direction
• This instrument has an arrow with a large tail that is attached to a pole
• Wind pushes harder on the arrow tail due to its larger surface area
• The wind vane spins, pointing the arrow into the wind

ANEMOMETER

• Anemometers measure wind speed
• They have three or four cups attached to a pole
• Wind causes the cups to rotate and spin
• They send electric currents to a meter that shows the wind speed

Thank you!