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| Home Meteorology |
| Discover how to put together a home weather station. |
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1
Thermometers are the obvious starting point. They come in a huge variety of models with prices starting at about $10 and soaring to the hundreds for more sophisticated versions. At $195, the Galileo Floating Ball thermometer is a real talking point. The lowest ball in the top half of the chamber indicates the current air temperature. It's vital to put thought into the placement of a thermometer. Obviously, keep it out of the elements so it's not subjected to direct sun, draughts or rain. When putting one inside, watch out for any heat radiating from tiles or concrete floors.
2
Barometers measure the pressure of the air, based on the weight of the air above. In a sense, they're the most important element as far as forecasting goes, because changes in air pressure often foretell changes in the weather.
3
The price of a hygrometer - or humidity gauge - starts at around $18 and moves up to $100. But what most people tend to do is buy a home weather station, which combines the hygrometer with a barometer and thermometer. These start at around $80, which is often a cheaper alternative to buying all the items individually.
4
Rain gauges come in lots of shapes and sizes and cost from $20. When picking your gauge, consider the climate you live in. If you're in the tropics, pick a small-diameter gauge with a large scale or an overflow chamber, otherwise it will fill too quickly. Also, try to pick one with a chart, so you can track your rainfall over time.
5
If you're a techno-head you can disregard all that and invest in a Weather Wizard. This uses electronic sensors to detect everything from temperature to various wind readings and rainfall. Then it gives you all the data at the press of a button. It can be integrated into your computer for collection and analysis of data, but the more automated the mechanism, the more it costs. This one will set you back about $500, plus $300 for the software package.
We'd like to call all these systems foolproof, but the weather is unpredictable. The good thing about forecasting from home is that, should you get it wrong, you've only yourself to blame!
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Cost
Weather Wizard $ 495.00
Galileo Floating Ball 33cm $ 195.00
8915 double capsule barometer $ 177.00
Nylex 1000 rain gauge and chart $ 33.00
Ornamental rain gauge 800mm $ 20.00
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More Info
The above instruments are all from JCB Instruments, 497 Wentworth Ave, Toongabbie NSW 2146. Ph (02) 9896 8833.
Mail orders available — allow $10 for packing and postage. Bankcard, Visa and MasterCard are accepted, and there's a five percent discount if you mention the Our House program.
Storm Spotters Network, call (02) 9269 8622 or contact your local bureau of meteorology.
Jasnor weatherglass/barometers, call (03) 9530 2780 for nearest retailers.
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Disclaimer
All Fact Sheets and other material on the Our House website are provided as a general information service only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the advice of a properly qualified tradesman. Neither ninemsn nor its licensors (including the Nine Network) assume or accept any responsibility for, and will not be liable for the accuracy or appropriate application of any information whatsoever in any Fact Sheet or other material on the Our House web site. Your use of the Our House web site is governed by this disclaimer and the ninemsn's Terms of Use.
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