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Features

The elements usually observed and recorded in a home or school weather station are:

Dry bulb temperature. Thermometers must be housed in an instrument enclosure (see the plans (Plan 1, Plan 2, Plan 3) in Section 3). An official enclosure is called a Stevenson screen.

Wet bulb temperature

Rainfall - standard 203mm collector. The rain gauge can be attached to the instrument enclosure.

Surface wind direction and velocity. Use a simple wind vane, correctly oriented. The vane should be about 10 metres above ground level. A relatively inexpensive, hand-held Venturi meter can be used to determine wind speed.

Estimate of surface (horizontal) visibility.

Noting phenomena such as hail and severe squalls.

Barometric pressure. A dial-type aneroid barometer is appropriate.

Terrestrial (ground) minimum temperature. The lowest temperature reached overnight at grass level is referred to as the terrestrial minimum temperature. This is measured on a separate minimum thermometer, re-set and placed on the grass at, say, the 3pm observation, read at the 9am observation, and left in the screen for safety during the day

Autographic records. Continuous readings of air temperature and humidity charted against a time scale can be obtained from thermographs, hygrographs, or thermo-hygrographs. The "weekly" types are most suitable, requiring a chart change once a week.

A range of meteorological instruments suitable for amateur use are stocked by those companies listed previously and others.

It is almost impossible to select a site for an instrument enclosure in city and suburban areas that satisfies the strict criteria imposed on official observation sites. But be prepared to compromise, and try to find a grassed area as far away from buildings, trees and fences as possible. Where security is a problem, consider erecting a high fence with a locked gate. The site should be about 10 metres by 10 metres, but the dictates of space and finance may necessitate something smaller.

Observations are generally made every three hours, from 3am to 9pm, but most climate stations make observations twice a day, at 9am and 3pm. This is sufficient to establish the average values of various elements - such as rainfall and temperature - for a district.

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