By: Julia Schoeb, Mt. Bethel ES

 A thermometer is a tool that measures temperature.  Temperature can be measured using Celsius (C) or Fahrenheit (F) scale. Temperature is measured in degrees.  The tube thermometer contains a liquid. Heat causes matter to expand, so the liquid expands and moves up the tube when the air temperature gets warmer. The liquid moves down the tube if the air temperature gets cooler.  The circle thermometer has pieces of metal inside that expand as the temperature gets hotter. A pointer hooked to these metal pieces moves and points to the temperature.

 A wind vane shows the direction the wind is coming from.  Letters on the wind vane show which way is north, south, east, and west. An arrow turns to point into the wind. If the arrow points north, the wind is from the north. It is a called a north wind. If the arrow points between two directions, both directions are used to tell the wind direction. For example, the wind could be a northeast wind.

 An anemometer measures the speed of the wind.  The wind pushes the cups and makes them spin. The spinning part of the anemometer is attached to a dial that shows how fast the wind is blowing.

 A barometer measures changes in the air pressure.  A barometer is commonly used for weather prediction. High air pressure indicates fair weather while low pressure indicates that storms are more likely.

 A hygrometer measures humidity (moisture) in the air.

 Instrument that collects and measures the amount of precipitation.  Rain gauges only indicate rainfall in a localized area.  The rain can be measured in centimeters or inches

 A device sent to space to take pictures of the Earth’s weather and relay them back to Earth.

hygrometer satellite