
The Weather Observer's Handbook
Stephen Burt(Author)
Cambridge University Press
2nd Edition
Published on 25. April 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
522 pages
978-1-009-26058-9 (ISBN)
Description
This handbook provides a comprehensive, practical, and independent guide to all aspects of making weather observations. The second edition has been fully updated throughout with new material, new instruments and technologies, and the latest reference and research materials. Traditional and modern weather instruments are covered, including how best to choose and to site a weather station, how to get the best out of your equipment, how to store and analyse your records and how to share your observations. The book's emphasis is on modern electronic instruments and automatic weather stations. It provides advice on replacing 'traditional' mercury-based thermometers and barometers with modern digital sensors, following implementation of the UN Minamata Convention outlawing mercury in the environment. The Weather Observer's Handbook will again prove to be an invaluable resource for both amateur observers choosing their first weather instruments and professional observers looking for a comprehensive and up-to-date guide.
Reviews / Votes
'... an excellent introduction to setting up and running a weather station, with actionable tips, including on calibration, that assist readers no matter what their budget for equipment may be. ... Highly recommended.' S. G. Decker, Choice 'Here, in a new second edition of the unique and popular book The Weather Observer's Handbook, we are treated to another cornucopia of knowledge on meteorological observation, collected altogether in a unique and valuable volume.' Edward Graham, Weather (Royal Meteorological Society)More details
Edition
2nd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
Revised edition
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 178 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight
971 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-009-26058-9 (9781009260589)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Stephen Burt
The Weather Observer's Handbook
Book
04/2024
2nd Edition
Cambridge University Press
€121.30
Shipment within 15-20 days
Previous edition

Stephen Burt
The Weather Observer's Handbook
Book
06/2012
1st Edition
Cambridge University Press
€75.51
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Dr Stephen Burt commenced his professional career in meteorology within the UK Met Office in 1977, followed by a series of private-sector marketing roles within the computer industry before returning to academia, eventually retiring from the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading in 2018 (where he remains a Visiting Fellow). His meteorological research interests span instruments, observation techniques and methods, climatological data rescue, case studies of notable weather events, and long weather records and their sites; in all, he has authored or joint-authored some fifty peer-reviewed journal papers to date, and four other books. Stephen is a Fellow of the UK's Royal Meteorological Society and a member of both the American Meteorological Society and the Irish Meteorological Society. He is also an accomplished photographer with several hundred published photographs to his name.
Content
Part I. The Basics: 1. Why measure the weather?; 2. Choosing a weather station; 3. Buying a weather station; Part II. Measuring the Weather: 4. Site and exposure - the basics; 5. Measuring the temperature of the air; 6. Measuring precipitation; 7. Measuring atmospheric pressure; 8. Measuring humidity; 9. Measuring wind speed and direction; 10. Measuring grass and earth temperatures; 11. Measuring sunshine and solar radiation; 12. Observing hours and time standards; 13. Aws data flows, display and storage; 14. Non-instrumental weather observing; 15. Calibration; 16. Metadata - what is it, and why is it important?; Part III. Making the Most of Your Observations: 17. Collecting and storing data; 18. Making the data avalanche work for you; 19. Sharing your observations; 20. Summary and getting started; Appendix 1: Metrology and meteorology: an instrument theory primer; Appendix 2: Recommended products; Appendix 3: Useful sources; Appendix 4: Mercury-based legacy thermometers and barometers; Appendix 5: Useful functions; Appendix 6: Unit conversions; References; Further reading; Index.