Technology

Technology is very important in every stage of a storm. Starting at the beginning and tracking it to the end. In order to do this certain instruments are used.

Here are a few instruments that are used to track storms. The observations of a storm will help meteorologists predict the type of storm that is coming and how long it will last. It will also help them to better prepare the public in case of a severe storm.

There are instruments used to track the weather before the storm and they are the anemometer, the wind vane, the hygrograph, and the barometer.

Meteorologist use an instrument called an anemometer to measure the wind speed and the direction of the wind. The rotation of a windmill consists of three or four narrow cups. Each cup is attached to the ends of horizontal arms which are attached to a vertical axis. The information is then transmitted into the computer for observations.

A wind vane is an instrument used to indicate the direction of the wind. It consists of an irregularly shaped object, an arrow mounted at its center of a pole so it can go in the direction of the wind. The portion of the wind vane with the greater surface area, usually the tail, offers greater resistance to the wind and positions the vane so that the forward part points in the direction from which the wind is blowing. The wind vane must be mounted on a pole, tower or even on a tall building.

A hygrograph is used by meteorologists to measure and record humidity in the air. Sometimes human hairs are used. Hair grows longer in the damp air and it grows shorter in dry air.

A barometer has a glass column of about 30 inches in height and is closed at one end, with a small holding tank at the bottom. Mercury in the tube adjusts until the weight of the column balances the atmospheric force exerted on the small holding tank. High pressure places more downward force on the small holding tank, forcing the Mercury higher in the column which means good weather is coming. Low pressure allows the Mercury to drop to a lower level in the column by lowering the downward force placed on the small holding tank which means that bad weather is coming. Barometers can measure atmospheric pressures in the range between 28 and 31 inches of the Mercury in the tube.

The instruments that are used to show the speed of the storm and the way the storm is moving are the weather balloon, satellites and radar.

Weather balloons are used in the measurement and assessment of the upper atmospheric conditions. Information may be gathered during the upward ascent of the balloon through the atmosphere or during its motions once it has reached a specific altitude. Atmospheric information is most often gathered by height-finding radar, remote sensing by earth-orbiting or stationary satellites, and aircraft instruments, with weather balloons recording the data. Helium, which is not as thick as air, usually is used to inflate weather balloons. A pilot balloon is a small balloon in which an upward motion is followed visually to obtain information for the computation of the speed and direction of the wind at different altitudes. A smaller ceiling balloon is used to determine the altitude of cloud bases. A much larger, teardrop-shaped balloon is used to carry a radiosonde overhead. The balloon expands as it rises, usually reaching an altitude of at least 90,000 feet before it explodes. A small parachute then lowers the instruments to the ground. Teardrop-shaped balloons are also used for horizontal sounding of the atmosphere. The weather balloon sends information by radio of the atmospheric pressure, temperature, and humidity. By monitoring its movements, it provides information about winds at its flight level. Methods have also been developed that horizontal sounding balloons can be observed by earth-orbiting satellites.