The Beauty of the Barometer

Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:28 am     Post subject: The Beauty of the Barometer

Barometers are weather instruments used to measure air pressure, with the help of the column of air above it. This is based on the fact that the higher we go, the thinner is the earths atmosphere, the air gets lighter and the pressure is lower. In simple terms, barometers tell you whether the pressure is rising or falling. Therefore, a rising barometer would tell you that you could expect dry sunny weather conditions, while a falling barometer indicates stormy and wet weather conditions.

Barometers have been used in homes for centuries. Today the antique barometer is a much sought after addition to enhance the look of a living room. You can use the ordinary clock face barometer in your car to tell you the changes in altitude during cross-country driving. This is measured in a unit called hectopascals.

Barometers are typically used to measure change in air pressure in a given area. Different areas of the earth have high and low pressure systems in the atmosphere and this can be read on the barometers face. Taken along with the wind temperature, moisture and signs of the clouds, barometers can be very useful to forecast the weather.

The Italian mathematician Torricelli invented the Barometer in 1645, when he discovered the principle of the barometer. He used a long glass tube closed at one end, which he placed upside down in an open container with liquid. The pressure of the air on the liquid inside the container made it go up the tube and the changes in the liquid level could be used to measure air pressure changes.