No other science today influences our everyday lives as does
meteorology, the study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather
processes and their prediction. This weather observation is
given credence by the number of homes and business offices that display
various types of weather equipment — usually a thermometer,
barometer or hygrometer. We enjoy having weather instruments at
hand and are fascinated by their ability to provide, at a glance, an
instant assessment of how hot or cold it is outside, whether the
barometric pressure is rising or falling, from what direction the wind is
blowing, or how much rain fell in our gardens last night. Undoubtedly,
this fascination grew out of pure necessity when, early in history,
fishermen preparing to put to sea attempted to gain some insight as to
whether their voyage would be safe and productive.
The revolution in digital circuitry has spawned a whole new generation
of sophisticated home weather equipment, complete with
digital readouts and remote sensing capability, as well as safety equipment
such as emergency weather radios, lightning detectors and handheld weather
instruments. Now more than ever, it can be not only informative, but
fun to have your very own weather display sitting atop your desk or on
your nightstand. Complete remote-sensing weather stations can now be
purchased for under $300; these are often available with a personal
computer interface. Do-it-yourself home weather instrument projects are
also available for those of us who are adventuresome or simply wish to
dabble in science or electronics. To a child just beginning to explore
the world of science, home weather instruments may serve as the spark
that ignites a promising career in meteorology, oceanography or
environmental engineering.
Authored by Kenneth L. Anderson.
Original article published 1 May 2003, updated 28 April
2007.
Follow links to the right to learn more about home weather instruments and equipment.
At the left margin, Related Links address topics of interest
pertaining to professional weather equipment, weather safety equipment and other weather topics. View the
Weather & Meteorology SiteMap
for a complete list of meteorology and weather-related topics.
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