This lesson provides an introduction to the instrumentation used for meteorological measurements. Aimed at undergraduate and graduate students in meteorology and the atmospheric sciences, it examines the types of observing systems available to measure temperature, pressure, ... Read more »
This advanced lesson explores the performance characteristics of instrumentation used for meteorological measurements. Static performance characteristics are examined in the context of calibration, which offers a means to determine an instrument's response. Dynamic ... Read more »
This lesson offers a comprehensive overview of temperature measurement as related to the atmosphere, bodies of water, soils, and other parts of Earth’s surface. The lesson begins by defining temperature and why it is an important property to characterize. It provides ... Read more »
This lesson provides information about current science and technologies for measuring pressure in the atmosphere. The lesson begins by reviewing the key physical laws governing atmospheric pressure, including Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures. Then, it explores typical ... Read more »
This lesson provides an overview of the science and techniques related to measuring humidity, or the amount of water vapor, in Earth's atmosphere. After beginning with a review of the units used for humidity, the learner will examine the three main types of hygrometers ... Read more »
This lesson summarizes the science and techniques used to measure atmospheric wind. It presents an overview of the main sensor types for wind, including mechanical, electronic, and drifting-position sensors as well as sensors relying on impact pressure and sensors utilizing ... Read more »
This lesson provides a detailed overview of the instrumentation used to measure atmospheric trace gases, which include various chemical compounds in Earth's atmosphere, some of which result from combustion or other human-related processes. The instrumentation for measuring ... Read more »
This lesson will aid learners in developing a basic ability to conduct observational studies of cloud hydrometeors and aerosols or airborne particles. Chapter I of the lesson provides an overview of hydrometeors and aerosols and why these constituents of the atmosphere are ... Read more »
This lesson outlines the importance of measurements of atmospheric radiation and describes the main types of instrumentation used in obtaining these measurements. Solar radiation instrumentation described includes thermal detectors (pyranometers and pyroelectric ... Read more »
This lesson offers a comprehensive overview of precipitation measurement at the Earth’s surface. The lesson begins by defining precipitation and why it is an important property to characterize. It then provides details about the properties and characteristics of gauges ... Read more »