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ThermometersThe units are either degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius. Most Internet based weather maps in the United States use the Fahrenheit scale. |
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BarometersA scale can measure your weight. A barometer measures the air's weight by measuring air pressure. The units can be inches or centimeters, but on Internet weather maps meteorologists use millibars (mb). Also, they use a shorthand for the readings.125 on a weather map is actually 1012.5 mb 062 on a weather map is actually 1006.2 mb 929 on a weather map is actually 992.9 mb 833 on a weather map is actually 983.3 mb Use the Common
Meteorological Conversions site to change from inches to millibars. |
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Psychrometer, Hygrometer or Wet & Dry BulbThese measure how much water is in the air (the relative humidity). They can also help determine the temperature at which water condenses out of the air (the dew point). |
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WindThe direction of the wind is measured with a wind vane. The speed is measured with an anemometer. A wind is always named the direction it is coming. A wind blowing from the north is called a north wind. |
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PrecipitationThe position of rain, hail, snow, etc. is measured with radar. For a description of weather radar go to Radar Images from the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois.For present radar map of the U.S. go to this site from Intellicast.com |
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CloudsThe type of clouds can be determined by referring the clouds you see to a Cloud Catalog from the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Image/Text/Data from the University of Illinois WW2010 Project.The position of clouds is photographed by satellites. For present cloud positions of the U.S. taken from a satellite go to this site. |
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Interpreting Surface Observation SymbolsA Tutorial in Interpreting Surface Observation Symbols
From the Department of Atmospheric Sciences
Practice
reading weather symbols from a station near you.
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Online Definitions and Concepts
From the Department of Atmospheric SciencesImage/Text/Data
from the WW2010 Project
A collection of multimedia instructional modules
that introduce and explain fundamental concepts in meteorology.
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Produced by the UK Atmosphere, Climate & Environment Information Programme |