| There are five basic instruments needed for an | | | | you will be able to judge how cold it is outside and |
| accurate record of the weather. A rain gauge, | | | | decide whether or not to cover your more |
| anemometer (wind gauge), thermometer, | | | | sensitive plants. |
| barometer and weathervane. | | | | 4. Barometer. Now barometers measure the |
| 1. Rain gauge. These come in all shapes and sizes | | | | atmospheric pressure and again can be used to |
| from a basic glass jar with incremental | | | | see if the pressure is rising or falling or steady, |
| measurements on the side, to a wireless rain | | | | providing a good indication of the near future |
| gauge which can be placed anywhere in your | | | | weather. However barometers are so much |
| garden and remotely records data such as | | | | more than a weather instrument, they can be a |
| current rainfall total, current rainfall rate per hour | | | | work of art. Ornamental barometers grace the |
| and daily, weekly or monthly totals. They can also | | | | walls of many a home, and I can remember as a |
| be self-emptying allowing you to measure large | | | | child tapping our barometer every day to see if |
| precipitation amounts over a period of time. | | | | the pressure was changing and if the weather |
| 2. Anemometer (wind gauge). This is a device | | | | was going to be 'fine' or 'stormy'. Of course |
| used to measure the speed of the wind. Its most | | | | technology has caught up with air pressure too, |
| basic form is a cup-anemometer consisting of | | | | so digital barometers are widely available and, as |
| four hemispherical shafts mounted horizontally to | | | | in the instruments above, can be used to |
| each other on a vertical shaft. Anemometers can | | | | measure atmospheric trends aiding in a more |
| be split into 2 broad groups, hand held and fixed. | | | | accurate picture of the coming weather. |
| A fixed wind gauge can measure the wind speed | | | | 5. Weathervanes. Quite simply the weathervane |
| at a given location, and also can provide historical | | | | measures which direction the wind is blowing from. |
| measurements such as average wind speed and | | | | A key component to any weather forecast. But, |
| maximum gust. A hand held anemometer | | | | as with a barometer, they can also be an |
| meanwhile will generally just display the current | | | | aesthetical addition to your garden, or roof top! |
| wind strength, however is extremely flexible as it | | | | There is now an almost unlimited range of designs |
| can be carried anywhere so you can measure the | | | | ,the more popular styles including animals, birds, |
| wind speed at the coast or on the top of a | | | | sports and many others. It is also possible to |
| mountain. | | | | have your own hand crafted, designer |
| 3. Thermometer. These devices of course | | | | weathervane. |
| measure the temperature. Thermometers have | | | | All these weather recording instruments are |
| progressed a huge amount since the days of a | | | | widely available as individual units or bundled as a |
| simple mercury thermometer. Now wireless is all | | | | weather station. Whatever your reasons for |
| the rage, and from the comfort of your favourite | | | | recording the weather, be it as a hobby or as a |
| armchair you can check the current, maximum or | | | | necessary part of your profession, enjoy the |
| minimum temperatures and have it displayed in | | | | weather whatever it throws at you! |
| °C or °F. So if you are a keen gardener | | | | |