Updated 05 January 2016

Topic Met Instruments

Learning Objective
 To explain construction, principle of operation, maintenance and precautions for following
meteorological instruments:-
 Aneroid barometer
 Precision barometer
 Barograph.
 Thermometer.
 Hygrometer,
 Whirling psychrometer ,
 Anemometer
Duration 2+2 Lecture

Aneroid Barometer Construction

Construction and Operating Principle

 Aneroid means without liquid.
 In diagrams above, wall mounted barometer and the inner working mechanism has been
shown.
 A bellow type sealed chamber made of very thin material, having partial vacuum.
 In the diagram, it is termed as Vacuum Chamber.
 Bellow gets compressed when Atm. Pressure rises and expands when the Atm. pressure drops.
 These movements are magnified with spring and linkage system and used to move a pointer
over a dial marked in mb or hPa (& mm of Mercury Column)
 Larger the chamber, greater the accuracy.
 Barometers are graduated in mb/hPa and height of Mercury column (in inches or mm).
 Some old British barometers may show indications of rain and fair weather in relation to the
atmospheric pressure.

Barometric Tendency
 Barometric tendency is the difference between current atmospheric pressure and pressure 3
hours earlier. This comparison helps in prediction of weather.
 Aneroid barometer is fitted with a separate reference pointer directly above the dial pointer
 The reference pointer is manually moved using a knurled knob in the centre of the dial.
 Whenever an OOW comes on watch, he should align the reference pointer with dial pointer.
 Thereafter every hour he should examine the position of the dial pointer with reference needle.
 If the dial pointer has moved to the left of the reference pointer, it would indicate fall of
atmospheric pressure which would be a portent of worsening weather.
 Thus by visual comparison between the dial pointer and reference pointer, Barometric
tendency can be visually appreciated and also measured accurately.
Correct Use of an Aneroid Barometer
All efforts should be made to read aneroid barometer as accurately as possible because small
changes in atmospheric pressure (as small as 3 hPa) indicate onset of bad weather. An aneroid
barometer can be affected by the following errors:-
1. Error of Parallax.
2. Index error
3. Height error
4. It is not affected by Temperature or Latitude error which used to affect Mercury barometer.

Error of parallax
This error is prevented either of the following means
 Matching the instrument needle with its image in the background mirror arc.
 By ensuring that the eye is exactly above the instrument needle.
 By matching the reference needle exactly above the instrument needle.

Index error
 Intrinsic error occurs due to varying material characteristics, imperfect elasticity and wear
and tear of the bellows and other mechnical and moving part of the barometer. .
 The error varies over a period of time & should be obtained once in 3 months.
 This is called calibration which is done by Port Met Office who send their representative
on board with accurate barometer for comparison.
 You may be requred to land the barometer at the Met office if major repairs are needed.
 The Index error is entered on a card which is hung near the instrument.
 This error can never be eliminated but when it becomes too large, it can be reduced by
small adjustment on the back of the instrument.

Height correction for Mean sea level pressure

 This is a very important concept for students of meteorology.
 Comparison between atmospheric pressure of two locations is an important parameter which
determines which way the direction and magnitude of winds.
 It is essential that the atmospheric pressures are measured compared to a standard reference.
 That standard reference is the Mean Sea Level (MSL).
 Atmospheric pressures, at sea or on land, are therefore measured with reference to MSL.
 To achieve this essential commonality, height correction is added to the atmospheric pressure,
which is measured on the bridge of a ship (which may be 20 or 25 meters above sea level).
 Correction is calculated at the rate of 115mb for 1000meters.
 Remember that height correction on a ship is always added to the barometer reading.

Temperature correction
Temperature variations do affect the performance of a barometer, but it is compensated for by the
manufacturers and no correction is needed applied on board a ship.

Advantages of a Aneroid Barometer

 A robust and compact instrument.
 Changes of pressure are easily detectable.
 With the help of external pointer, the rise or fall of Atmospheric pressure and the barometric
tendency can be judged easily.
 No maintenance on board.

Precision barometer
  This is a specially constructed aneroid barometer for measurement of Atmospheric
pressure upto a first decimal place.
 To avoid effects of gust of wind, rolling, pitching or heaving, the outer casing is airtight
except or one small air-inlet fitted with a damping device.
 Finely balance lever with jeweled pivot for sensing the movement of bellows.
 For accurate reading of the movement, a micrometer + Digital display is used.
 When the micrometer touches the lever, the display shows a unbroken line.
 By delicately making and breaking the contact which will be indicated by the display and
disappearance of the line, the Pressure can be accurately measured.
 The display will be energized only when a spring loaded switch is pressed. This ensures
longer life for the battery.

Barograph

Description and working of a Barograph

 Aneroid barometer or the Precision Barometer provide desecrate readings and not continuous
readings.
 This is also a specially constructed Aneroid Barometer, mounted on springs and rubber pads
to reduce vibrations.
 A lever system move the stylus in vertical in response to the movement of bellows.
 The chart under the stylus, fixed on a cylindrical drum, moves horizontally at a uniform speed
powered by a 8-day clock mechanism.
 The key for rewinding the clock is kept under the lid of the drum.
 The stylus contains ink to mark the paper.
 The pen is washed with water and cleaned with methylated spirit once a month as per
manufacturer's instructions.
 In modern barographs, the vacuum chamber is immersed in a brass cylinder of oil for
dampening the movement of the stylus.
 The vertical lines on the barograph are marked for two hours interval and are curved having
the same curvature as the length of the pen arm to obviate error caused by the curved
movement of the arm.
 Everyday at 1200UTC, the pen arm is caused to move up and down by pressing a specially
provided button to create a time reference mark.
 After a barogram is complete and removed from the drum, it should be marked Lat, Long,
Dates and comparison with a barometer for the benefit of the Met office.
 These records along with weather log books are handed over to the meteorological office of
the home port.

The Barograph Paper (Slide M4)The.

 Vertical lines indicate UTC(GMT) at two hourly interval and are curved.
 The curved lines have the same radius of curvature as the length of the pen arm, so the the
pressure changes recorded do not have a error in time.
 The chart is fixed on the drum with the help of 2 clips up and down or one long clamp equal
to the height of the drum.
 The later end of the chart to over lap earlier end so that the stylus does on catch the edge of the
chart and tear it, in case the paper is not changed due to over sight.
 Prior renewal of the chart the pen arm pulled clear using the release lever.

Location of a Barometer/Barograph on board a ship.

 As close to the centreline (which is fore and aft) of the ship to minimise fluctuations caused
by rolling of a ship.
 Out of the way from areas of regular traffic where someone may bump into the instrument and
damage it.
 Away from influences which can give very erroneous readings like vibrations, draft of air,
places where sudden changes of temperature are likely.
 At an eye level for ease and accuracy of reading.
 Vertical lines indicate UTC(GMT) at two hourly interval and are curved.
 The curved lines have the same radius of curvature as the length of the pen arm, so the the
pressure changes recorded do not have a error in time.
 The chart is fixed on the drum with the help of 2 clips up and down or one long clamp equal
to the height of the drum.
 The later end of the chart to over lap earlier end so that the stylus does on catch the edge of the
chart and tear it, in case the paper is not changed due to over sight.
 Prior renewal of the chart the pen arm pulled clear using the release lever.
 Vertical lines indicate UTC(GMT) at two hourly interval and are curved.
 The curved lines have the same radius of curvature as the length of the pen arm, so the the
pressure changes recorded do not have a error in time.
 The chart is fixed on the drum with the help of 2 clips up and down or one long clamp equal
to the height of the drum.
 The later end of the chart to over lap earlier end so that the stylus does on catch the edge of the
chart and tear it, in case the paper is not changed due to over sight.
 Prior renewal of the chart the pen arm pulled clear using the release lever.

Barometric Tendency
 It is the difference the atmospheric pressure at the time of observation and the atmospheric
pressure three hours earlier.
 It is expressed in hPa (or millibars) and upto one decimal of a hPa (or mb.)
 It give the forecaster a good idea of the rate of change of pressure, which is useful for
prediction the movement of pressure system (also called isobaric patterns).
 It is for easy comparison by the forecaster that barographs and barometer readings should be
 in accordance with UTC (GMT) and not ship's time.
 Barometric Tendency is the term used in the weather codes to denote the shape of the trace of
the barograph during the three hours preceding the time of observation.

The Hygrometer
 The Hygrometer is an instrument used for obtaining the relative Humidity and Dew Point temperature
of the air.
 The ones used at sea on merchant ships is also called
o Mason's Hygrometer
o or 'Wet & Dry Bulb Hygrometer
o or Psychrometer
 It consists of two identical Celsius Thermometers, one is called the Dry Bulb and other the Wet Bulb.
 Both the thermometers are mounted on a single frame and enclosed in a Stevenson's screen.
 The wet bulb has a single layer of muslin (Starch Free) wrapped around it with other end dipped in
bottle of distilled water.
 Because of capillary action, water is drawn upward keeping the muslin damp.
 In dry atmosphere, water in the muslin cloth will evaporate and take away heat from the wet bulb.
 Wet bulb will show lower temperature than the dry bulb, which measures the ambient temperature.
 Drier the atmosphere, faster the evaporation, lesser the temperature shown by the wet bulb
thermometer.
 The difference between readings of dry and wet bulb is called the depression of the wet bulb.
 The meteorological tables are entered with dry bulb temperature on one axis and the depression of the
wet bulb on other axis.

The Stevenson Screen

 A special box meant to house the Hygrometer.

 It is a wooden cupboard with louvers on back and on the sides of the cupboard, which allow
ventilation but prohibit suns rays, re-radiated heat from fittings like funnel, rain or spray affecting the
instrument.

Precautions while Using Hygrometer

 Keep the Stevenson screen on the windwad side in open air, away from artificial source of heat like
heaters or blowers, funnel, ventilators of AC etc.
 Keep at a height of about 1.5 meters for ease of reading.
 Keep away from bulkheads to prevent re-radiated heat affecting the instruments.
 Keep muslin free of dust or any salt particles. Such impurities will give higher wet bulb readings. .
 Use distilled water for the wet bulb to avoid impurities to increase wet bulb readings. Change the
muslin cloth and the distilled water once a week
 Do not allow muslin cloth to become wet which will prevent evaporation and give higher readings at
the wet bulb.
 After changing the muslin cloth, distilled water or instruments position, take readings of the wet bulb
after half an hour to let the evaporation be regular and complete.
 Readings of this instrument are not accurate for ventilatory winds below 7 knots. This shortcomings of
the hygrometer has been overcome by the ‘Whirling Psychrometer’.

The Whirling Psychrometer

 Principle of operation is same as the Hygrometer.

 To operate, the frame is held horizontal and one drop of water is dropped on to the muslin cloth.
 The frame is whirled in open air for at least two minutes.
 Rate of evaporation at the Wet Bulb depends upon the speed of air flowing past the bulb.
 It reaches maximum at 7 knots wind speed.
 So readings unchanging and most reliable at speeds of 7 knots and above.
 In normal hygrometer, the speed of wind may vary, but in Whirling Psychrometer, speeds in excess of
7 knots are guaranteed when whirled at 1 revolution per second.
 Immediate reading is taken of the dry and the wet bulb.
 Essential that readings are taken immediately or else the wet bulb will give wrong readings.
 Obtain RH and the Dew Point from the meteorological tables meant for whirling Psychrometer.
 Very simple, and very accurate.

Precautions while using Whirling Psychrometer

 For accurate readings, the muslin clothe must be clean and free of dust or salt deposits.
 Only one drop of water. If it is not soaked readily, it means the muslin cloth is dirty.
 Do not touch the muslin cloth to avoid body oils being deposited on to the cloth.
 Always swing the instrument in open air, on the windward side of the ship, away from sunlight.
 Do not bang it on ships structure while whirling, especially in rough seas.
 Swing for at least for two minutes and take readings immediately.

Anemometer
 An anemometer is a device used for measuring wind speed and velocity.
 The term is derived from the Greek word anemos, which means wind
 The first known description of an anemometer given by Leon Battista Alberti in 1450.
 In 1846, John Thomas Robinson improved upon the design by using four hemispherical cups
and mechanical wheels.
 1991, Derek Weston added the ability to detect wind direction. This vane anemometer is also called
as a windmill or a propeller anemometer. The axis on the vane anemometer must be parallel to the
direction of the wind and therefore horizontal. A wind vane is used to follow the direction of wind.

Marine Bucket

 Marine bucket is exactly what it says a bucket.

 It is used to measure Sea Water Temperature which is an important oceanographic data which is
required to be sent to shore met office every six hours.
 It is sturdy bucket in which a normal thermometer is fitted.
 It is lowered from the bridge from a moving ship till it fully immersed in water.
 After stipulated time it is lifted onto the bridge and temperature noted.