CHAPTER 3

MEASUREMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE

3.1

GENERAL

3.1.1

Definition

The atmospheric pressure on a given surface is the force per unit area exerted by virtue of the
weight of the atmosphere above. The pressure is thus equal to the weight of a vertical column of air
above a horizontal projection of the surface, extending to the outer limit of the atmosphere.
Apart from the actual pressure, pressure trend or tendency has to be determined as well. Pressure
tendency is the character and amount of atmospheric pressure change for a 3 h or other specified period
ending at the time of observation. Pressure tendency is composed of two parts, namely the pressure change
and the pressure characteristic. The pressure change is the net difference between pressure readings at
the beginning and end of a specified interval of time. The pressure characteristic is an indication of
how the pressure has changed during that period of time, for example, decreasing then increasing, or
increasing and then increasing more rapidly.
3.1.2

Units and scales

The basic unit for atmospheric pressure measurements is the pascal (Pa) (or newton per square metre).
It is accepted practice to add the prefix hecto to this unit when reporting pressure for
meteorological purposes, making the hectopascal (hPa), equal to 100 Pa, the preferred terminology.
This is largely because one hectopascal equals one millibar (mbar), the formerly used unit.
The scales of all barometers used for meteorological purposes should be graduated in hPa. Some
barometers are graduated in millimetres or inches of mercury under standard conditions, (mm Hg)n
and (in Hg)n, respectively. When it is clear from the context that standard conditions are implied,
the briefer terms millimetre of mercury or inch of mercury may be used. Under these standard
conditions, a column of mercury having a true scale height of 760 (mm Hg)n exerts a pressure of
1013.250 hPa.
The following conversion factors will then apply:
1 hPa = 0.750062 (mm Hg)n
1 (mm Hg)n = 1.333224 hPa
In the case where the conventional engineering relationship between the inch and the millimetre is
assumed, namely 1 in = 25.4 mm, the following conversion factors are obtained:
1 hPa = 0.029530 (in Hg)n
1 (in Hg)n = 33.8639 hPa
1 (mm Hg)n = 0.03937008 (in Hg)n
Scales on mercury barometers for meteorological purposes should be so graduated that they yield true
pressure readings directly in standard units when the entire instrument is maintained at a standard
temperature of 0 C and the standard value of gravity is 9.80665 m s2.
Barometers may have more than one scale engraved on them, for example, hPa and mm Hg, or hPa and in
Hg, provided that the barometer is correctly calibrated under standard conditions.
Pressure data should be expressed in hectopascals. Hereafter in this chapter only the unit
hectopascal will be used.
3.1.3

Meteorological requirements

Analysed pressure fields are a fundamental requirement of the science of meteorology. It is

imperative that these pressure fields be accurately defined as they form the basis for all subsequent
predictions of the state of the atmosphere. Pressure measurements must be as accurate as technology
will allow, within realistic financial constraints, and there must be uniformity in the measurement
and calibration procedures across national boundaries.

The level of accuracy needed for pressure measurements to satisfy the requirements of various
meteorological applications has been identified by the respective WMO commissions and is outlined in
Part I, Chapter 1, Annex 1.D, which is the primary reference for measurement specifications in this
Guide. (bien . The requirements are as follows:
Measuring range:
Required target
uncertainty:
Reporting resolution:
Sensor time constant:
1, Annex 1.D)

500 1080 hPa (both station pressure and mean sea-level pressure)
0.1 hPa
0.1 hPa
20 s (for most modern barometers, 2 s is achievable see Part I, Chapter

Output averaging time: 1 min

The above requirements should be considered achievable for new barometers in a strictly controlled
environment, such as those available in a properly equipped laboratory. They provide an appropriate
target accuracy for barometers to meet before their installation in an operational environment.
For barometers installed in an operational environment, practical constraints will require welldesigned equipment for a National Meteorological Service to maintain this target accuracy. Not only
the barometer itself, but the exposure also requires special attention. Nevertheless, the performance
of the operational network station barometer, when calibrated against a standard barometer whose
index errors are known and allowed for, should not be below the stated criteria.
3.1.4

Methods of measurement and observation

For meteorological purposes, atmospheric pressure is generally measured with electronic

barometers, mercury barometers, aneroid barometers or hypsometers. The latter class of
instruments, which depends on the relationship between the boiling point of a liquid and the
atmospheric pressure, has so far seen only limited application and will not be discussed in depth
in this publication. A very useful discussion of the performance of digital barometers (which
mostly have electronic read-out) is found in WMO (1992).
Meteorological pressure instruments (barometers) are suitable for use as operational instruments
for measuring atmospheric pressure if they meet the following requirements:
(a) The instruments must be calibrated or controlled regularly against a (working) standard
barometer using approved procedures. The period between two calibrations must be short
enough to ensure that the total absolute measurement error will meet the accuracy
requirements defined in this chapter;
(b) Any variations in the accuracy (long-term and short-term) must be much smaller than the
tolerances outlined in section 3.1.3. If some instruments have a history of a drift in
calibration, they will be suitable operationally only if the period between calibrations is
short enough to ensure the required measurement accuracy at all times;
(c) Instrument readings should not be affected by temperature variations. Instruments are suitable
only if:
(i) Procedures for correcting the readings for temperature effects will ensure the required
accuracy; and/or
(ii) The pressure sensor is placed in an environment where the temperature is stabilized so
that the required accuracy will be met.
Some instruments measure the temperature of the pressure sensor in order to compensate for
temperature effects. It is necessary to control and calibrate these temperature-compensating
functions as part of the standard calibration activity;
(d) The instrument must be placed in an environment where external effects will not lead to
measurement errors. These effects include wind, radiation/temperature, shocks and
vibrations, fluctuations in the electrical power supply and pressure shocks. Great care must
be taken when selecting a position for the instrument, particularly for mercury barometers.
It is important that every meteorological observer should fully understand these effects and
be able to assess whether any of them are affecting the accuracy of the readings of the
barometer in use;
(e) The instrument should be quick and easy to read. Instruments must be designed so that the

standard deviation of their readings is less than one third of the stated absolute accuracy;
(f) If the instrument has to be calibrated away from its operational location, the method of
transportation employed must not affect the stability or accuracy of the barometer. Effects
which may alter the calibration of the barometer include mechanical shocks and vibrations,
and displacement from the vertical and large pressure variations such as may be encountered
during transportation by air.
Most barometers with recent designs make use of transducers which transform the sensor response
into pressure-related quantities. These are subsequently processed by using appropriate
electrical integration circuits or data-acquisition systems with appropriate smoothing
algorithms. A time constant of about 10 s (and definitely no greater than 20 s) is desirable for
most synoptic barometer applications. For mercury barometers, the time constant is generally not
important.
There are several general methods for measuring atmospheric pressure which will be outlined in the
following paragraphs.
Historically, the most extensively used method for measuring the pressure of the atmosphere
involves balancing it against the weight of a column of liquid. For various reasons, the required
accuracy can be conveniently attained only if the liquid used is mercury. Mercury barometers are,
in general, regarded as having good long-term stability and accuracy, but are now losing favour to
equally accurate electronic barometers, which are easier to read.
A membrane of elastic substance, held at the edges, will be deformed if the pressure on one side is
greater than on the other. In practice, this is achieved by using a completely or partially
evacuated closed metal capsule containing a strong metal spring to prevent the capsule from
collapsing due to external atmospheric pressure. Mechanical or electrical means are used to measure
the deformation caused by the pressure differential between the inside and outside of the capsule.
This is the principle of the well-known aneroid barometer.
Pressure sensor elements comprising thin-walled nickel alloy cylinders, surrounded by a vacuum,
have been developed. The natural resonant frequency of these cylinders varies as a function of the
difference in pressure between the inside of the cylinder, which is at ambient atmospheric
pressure, and the outside of the cylinder, which is maintained as a vacuum.
Absolute pressure transducers, which use a crystalline quartz element, are becoming more commonly
used. Pressure exerted via flexible bellows on the crystal face causes a compressive force on the
crystal. On account of the crystals piezoresistive properties, the application of pressure alters
the balance of an active Wheatstone bridge. Balancing the bridge enables accurate determination of
the pressure. These types of pressure transducers are virtually free of hysteresis effects.
The boiling point of a liquid is a function of the pressure under which it boils. Once this
function has been determined, the temperature at which the liquid boils may be used in a hypsometer
to determine the atmospheric pressure.
3.2

MERCURY BAROMETERS

There is an increasing move away from the use of mercury barometers because mercury vapour is highly
toxic; free mercury is corrosive to the aluminium alloys used in air frames (for these reasons there
are regulations proscribing the handling or carriage of mercury barometers in some countries);
special lead glass is required for the tube; the barometer is very delicate and difficult to
transport; it is difficult to maintain the instrument and to clean the mercury; the instrument must
be read and corrections applied manually; and other pressure sensors of equivalent accuracy and
stability with electronic read-out are now commonly available.
3.2.1

Construction requirements

The basic principle of a mercury barometer is that the pressure of the atmosphere is balanced against
the weight of a column of mercury. In some barometers, the mercury column is weighed on a balance,
but, for normal meteorological purposes, the length of the mercury column is measured against a scale
graduated in units of pressure.

There are several types of mercury barometers in use at meteorological stations, with the fixed
cistern and the Fortin types being the most common. The length to be measured is the distance
between the top of the mercury column and the upper surface of the mercury in the cistern. Any
change in the length of the mercury column is, of course, accompanied by a change in the level of
the mercury in the cistern. In the Fortin barometer, the level of the mercury in the cistern can
be adjusted to bring it into contact with an ivory pointer, the tip of which is at the zero of
the barometer scale. In the fixed-cistern barometer, often called the Kew-pattern barometer, the
mercury in the cistern does not need to be adjusted as the scale engraved on the barometer is
constracted to allow for changes in the level of the mercury in the cistern.
3.2.2

General requirements

The main requirements of a good mercury station barometer include the following:
(a) Its accuracy should not vary over long periods. In particular, its hysteresis effects should
remain small;
(b) It should be quick and easy to read, and readings should be corrected for all known effects. The
observers employing these corrections must understand their significance to ensure that the
corrections applied are correct and not, in fact, causing a deterioration in the accuracy of the
readings;
(c) It should be transportable without a loss of accuracy;
(d) The bore of the tube should not be less than 7 mm and should preferably be 9 mm;
(e) The tube should be prepared and filled under vacuum. The purity of the mercury is of
considerable significance. It should be double-distilled, degreased, repeatedly washed, and
filtered;
(f) The actual temperature for which the scale is assumed to give correct readings, at standard
gravity, should be engraved upon the barometer. The scale should preferably be calibrated to
give correct readings at 0 C;
(g) The meniscus should not be flat unless the bore of the tube is large (greater than 20 mm);
(h) For a marine barometer, the error at any point should not exceed 0.5 hPa.
The response time for mercury barometers at land stations is usually very small compared with
that of marine barometers and instruments for measuring temperature, humidity and wind.
3.2.3

Standard conditions

Given that the length of the mercury column of a barometer depends on other factors, especially on
temperature and gravity, in addition to the atmospheric pressure, it is necessary to specify the
standard conditions under which the barometer should theoretically yield true pressure readings. The
following standards are laid down in the international barometer conventions.
3.2.3.1

Standard temperature and density of mercury

The standard temperature to which mercury barometer readings are reduced to remove errors
associated with the temperature-induced change in the density of mercury is 0 C.
The standard density of mercury at 0 C is taken to be 1.35951104 kg m3 and, for the purpose of
calculating absolute pressure using the hydrostatic equation, the mercury in the column of a
barometer is treated as an incompressible fluid.
The density of impure mercury is different from that of pure mercury. Hence, a barometer
containing impure mercury will produce reading errors as the indicated pressure is proportional
to the density of mercury.
3.2.3.2

Standard gravity

Barometric readings have to be reduced from the local acceleration of gravity to standard
(normal) gravity. The value of standard gravity (g n) is regarded as a conventional constant, g n
= 9.80665 m s 2.
Note: The need to adopt an arbitrary reference value for the acceleration of gravity is explained in WMO (1966). This value
cannot be precisely related to the measured or theoretical value of the acceleration of gravity in specified conditions, for
example, sea level at latitude 45, because such values are likely to change as new experimental data become available.

3.2.4

Reading mercury barometers

When making an observation with a mercury barometer, the attached thermometer should be read
first. This reading should be taken as quickly as possible, as the temperature of the thermometer
may rise owing to the presence of the observer. The barometer should be tapped a few times with
the finger in two places, one adjacent to the meniscus and the other near the cistern, so as to
stabilize the mercury surfaces. If the barometer is not of a fixed-cistern type, the necessary
adjustment should be made to bring the mercury in the cistern into contact with the fiducial
pointer. Lastly, the vernier should be set to the meniscus and the reading taken. The vernier is
correctly adjusted when its horizontal lower edge appears to be touching the highest part of the
meniscus; with a magnifying glass it should be possible to see an exceedingly narrow strip of
light between the vernier and the top of the mercury surface. Under no circumstances should the
vernier cut off the top of the meniscus. The observers eye should be in such a position
that both front and back lower edges of the vernier are in the line of vision.
3.2.4.1

Accuracy of readings

The reading should be taken to the nearest 0.1 hPa. Usually it is not possible to read the
vernier to any greater accuracy.
Optical and digital systems have been developed to improve the reading of mercury barometers.
Although they normally ease the observations, such systems may also introduce new sources of
error, unless they have been carefully designed and calibrated.
3.2.4.2

Changes in index correction

Any change in the index correction shown during an inspection should be considered on its merits,
keeping in mind the following:
(a) The history of the barometer;
(b) The experience of the inspector in comparison work;
(c) The magnitude of the observed change;
(d) The standard deviation of the differences;
(e) The availability of a spare barometer at the station, the correction of which is known with
accuracy;
(f) The behaviour of travelling standards during the tour;
(g) The agreement, or otherwise, of the pressure readings of the station with those of
neighbouring stations on the daily synoptic chart if the change is accepted;
(h) Whether or not the instrument was cleaned before comparison.
Changes in index errors of station barometers, referred to as drift, are caused by:
(a) Variations in the capillary depression of the mercury surfaces due to contamination of the
mercury. In areas of severe atmospheric pollution from industrial sources, mercury contamination
may constitute a serious problem and may require relatively frequent cleaning of the mercury and
the barometer cistern;
(b) The rise of air bubbles through the mercury column to the space above.
These changes may be erratic, or consistently positive or negative, depending on the cause.
Changes in index correction are also caused by:
(a) Observer error resulting from failure to tap the barometer before taking the reading and
improper setting of the vernier and fiducial point;
(b) Lack of temperature equilibrium in either the station barometer or the travelling standard;
(c) Non-simultaneity of readings when the pressure is changing rapidly.
Such changes can be caused by accidental displacement of the adjustable scale and the shrinkage
or loosening of fiducial points in Fortin-type barometers.
3.2.4.3

Permissible changes in index correction

Changes in index correction should be treated as follows:

(a) A change in correction within 0.1 hPa may be neglected unless persistent;
(b) A change in correction exceeding 0.1 hPa but not exceeding 0.3 hPa may be provisionally

accepted unless confirmed by at least one subsequent inspection;

(c) A change in correction exceeding 0.3 hPa may be accepted provisionally only if the barometer is
cleaned and a spare barometer with known correction is not available. This barometer should be
replaced as soon as a correctly calibrated barometer becomes available.
Barometers with changes in index correction identified in (b) and (c) above warrant close
attention. They should be recalibrated or replaced as soon as practicable.
The same criteria apply to changes in the index corrections of the travelling standards as those
applied as to station barometers. A change in correction of less than 0.1 hPa may be neglected unless
persistent. A larger change in correction should be confirmed and accepted only after repeated
comparisons. The before and after tour index corrections of the travelling standard should
not differ by more than 0.1 hPa. Only barometers with a long history of consistent corrections
should, therefore, be used as travelling standards.

3.2.5

Correction of barometer readings to standard conditions

In order to transform barometer readings taken at different times and different places into usable
atmospheric pressure values, the following corrections should be made:
(a) Correction for index error;
(b) Correction for gravity;
(c) Correction for temperature.
For a large number of operational meteorological applications, it is possible to obtain acceptable
results by following the barometer manufacturers instructions, provided that it is clear that these
procedures give pressure readings of the required uncertainty. However, if these results are not
satisfactory or if higher precision is required, detailed procedures should be followed to correct for
the above factors; these procedures are described in Annex 3.A.
3.2.6

Errors and faults with mercury barometers

3.2.6.1

Uncertainties as to the temperature of the instrument

The temperature indicated by the attached thermometer will not usually be identical to the mean
temperature of the mercury, the scale and the cistern. The resultant error can be reduced by
favourable exposure and by using a suitable observation procedure. Attention is drawn to the frequent
existence of a large, stable vertical temperature gradient in a room, which may cause a considerable
difference between the temperature of the upper and lower parts of the barometer. An electric fan can
prevent such a temperature distribution but may cause local pressure variations and should be
switched off before an observation is made. Under normal conditions, the error associated with the
temperature reduction will not exceed 0.1 hPa if such precautions are taken.
3.2.6.2

Defective vacuum space

It is usually assumed that there is a perfect vacuum, or only a negligible amount of gas, above the
mercury column when the instrument is calibrated. Any change in this respect will cause an error in
pressure readings. A rough test for the presence of gas in the barometer tube can be made by tilting
the tube and listening for the click when the mercury reaches the top, or by examining the closed end
for the presence of a bubble, which should not exceed 1.5 mm in diameter when the barometer is
inclined. The existence of water vapour cannot be detected in this way, as it is condensed when the
volume decreases. According to Boyles Law, the error caused by air and unsaturated water vapour in
the space will be inversely proportional to the volume above the mercury. The only satisfactory way to
overcome this error is by conducting a recalibration over the entire scale; if the error is large, the
barometer tube should be refilled or replaced.
3.2.6.3

The capillary depression of the mercury surfaces

The height of the meniscus and the capillary depression, 1 for a given tube, may change with the
ageing of the glass tube, mercury contamination, pressure tendency, and the position of the mercury
in the tube. As far as is practicable, the mean height of the meniscus should be observed during the
original calibration and noted on the barometer certificate. No corrections should be made for
departures from the original meniscus height, and the information should be used only as an
indication of the need, or otherwise, to overhaul or recalibrate the barometer. A 1 mm change in the
height of the meniscus (from 1.8 to 0.8 mm) for an 8 mm tube may cause an error of about 0.5 hPa in
the pressure readings.
It should be noted that large variations in the angle of contact between the mercury and the wall
of the cistern in a fixed-cistern barometer may cause small but appreciable errors in the observed
pressure.
3.2.6.4

Lack of verticality

If the bottom of a symmetrical barometer of normal length (about 90 cm), which hangs freely, is
displaced by about 6 mm from the vertical position, the indicated pressure will be about 0.02 hPa too
high. Such barometers generally hang more truly vertical than this.
In the case of an asymmetrical barometer, however, this source of error is more critical. For
example, if the fiducial pointer in the cistern is about 12 mm from the axis, the cistern needs to be
displaced by only about 1 mm from the vertical to cause an error of 0.02 hPa.
3.2.6.5

General accuracy of the corrected pressure readings

The standard deviation of a single, corrected barometer reading at an ordinary meteorological station
should be within 0.1 hPa. This error will mainly be the result of the unavoidable uncertainty in the
instrument correction, the uncertainty concerning the temperature of the instrument, and the error
caused by the pumping effect of wind gusts on the mercury surface.
3.2.7

Safety precautions for the use of mercury

Mercury is used in relatively large quantities in barometers and, because it is poisonous, must be
handled with care. Elemental mercury is a liquid at temperatures and pressures experienced at the
Earths surface. Mercury vapour forms in the air whenever liquid mercury is present. Mercury can be
absorbed through the skin in both liquid and gaseous states and can be inhaled as a vapour. The
properties of mercury are described by Sax (1975). In many countries, precautions for its use are
prescribed by regulations governing the handling of hazardous goods. A United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) convention (Minamata Convention on Mercury) entered into force in October 2013 and
will have a significant impact on the use of mercury for meteorological applications.

A large dose of mercury may cause acute poisoning. It can also accumulate in the bodys hard and
soft tissues and prolonged exposure to even a low dose can cause long-term damage to organs, or even
death. Mercury mainly affects the central nervous system, and the mouth and gums, with symptoms that
include pain, loosening of teeth, allergic reactions, tremors and psychological disturbance.
For barometric applications, the main risks occur in laboratories where barometers are frequently
emptied or filled. There may also be problems in meteorological stations if quantities of mercury,
for example from a broken barometer, are allowed to remain in places where it may continuously
vaporize into an enclosed room where people work.
A danger exists even if the mercury is properly contained and if it is cleaned up after an accident.
The following points must be considered when using mercury:

Capillary depression is a reduction in height of the meniscus of a liquid contained in a tube where the liquid (such as
mercury) does not wet the walls of the tube. The meniscus is shaped convex upward.

(a) Vessels containing mercury must be well sealed and not likely to leak or easily break, and must
be regularly inspected;
(b) The floor of a room where mercury is stored or used in large quantities should have a sealed,
impervious and crack-free floor covering, such as PVC. Small cracks in the floor, such as those
between floor tiles, will trap mercury droplets. It is preferable to have the flooring material
curving up the walls by approximately 10 cm, leaving no joint between the floor and the walls at
floor level;
(c) Mercury must not be stored in a metal container as it reacts with almost all metals, except
iron, forming an amalgam which may also be hazardous. Mercury should not come into contact with
any other metallic object;
(d) Mercury must not be stored with other chemicals, especially amines, ammonia or acetylene;
(e) Large quantities of mercury should always be stored and handled in a well-ventilated room. The
raw material should be handled in a good-quality fume cupboard;
(f) Mercury should never be stored near a heat source of any kind as it has a relatively low boiling
point (357 C) and may produce hazardous concentrations of toxic vapour, especially during a
fire;
(g) If mercury is handled, the room where it is used and the personnel using it should be regularly
tested to determine if hazardous quantities of mercury are being encountered.
A United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) convention (Minamata Convention on Mercury) entered in
force in October 2013 and will have a significant impact on the use of mercury for meteorological
applications.
Under the Minamata Convention (October 2013), imports and exports of mercury will no longer be
allowed. In this context production, importation and exportation of mercury-added products such as
batteries and thermometers that contain mercury will be stopped by the year 2020. In fact, its
clearly mentioned, in Tthis convention, states that "Each party shall not allow, by taking
appropriate measures, the manufacture, import or export of mercury-added products listed in Part I of
Annex A [(of the convention]) after the phase-out date specified for those products. The Annexe A
of the convention lists those devices to be phased out: listed the following added product used in
the field of meteorologystates:
The following non-electronic measuring devices except non-electronic measuring devices installed
in large-scale equipment or those used for high precision measurement, where no suitable mercuryfree alternative is available:
(a) barometers;
(b) hygrometers;
(c) manometers;
(d) thermometers;
(e) sphygmomanometers.
and specifies that 2020 is the date after which their manufacture, import or export of these products
shall not be allowed (phase-out date) is defined in the is Aannex A to the convention to be 2020..

3.2.7.1

Spillages and disposal

The two common methods of cleaning up mercury spillages are either with a suitable aspirated
pick-up system, as outlined below, or by adsorption/amalgamation of the mercury onto a powder.
Mercury should be cleaned up immediately. The operator should wear PVC gloves or gauntlets, safety
goggles and, for significant spills, a respirator fitted with a mercury vapour cartridge. Depending
upon how large the spillage is, the mercury will be picked up by using a vacuum system; an adsorption
kit should then be used to clean up the small droplets. The use of an adsorption kit is imperative
because, during a spillage, dozens of small droplets of less than 0.02 mm in diameter will adhere to
surfaces and cannot be efficiently removed with a vacuum system.

In an aspirated pick-up system, the mercury is drawn through a small-diameter plastic tube into a
glass flask with approximately 3 cm of water in the bottom, with the tube opening being below the
water line in the flask. One end of a larger diameter plastic tube is connected to the air space
above the water in the flask, and the other end is connected to a vacuum cleaner or vacuum pump. The
water prevents the mercury vapour or droplets from being drawn into the vacuum cleaner or pump. The
slurry is then placed in a clearly labelled plastic container for disposal.
By using adsorption material, a variety of compounds can be used to adsorb or amalgamate mercury.
These include zinc powder, sulphur flour or activated carbon. Commercial kits are available for
cleaning up mercury spills. The powder is sprinkled on the spill and allowed to adsorb or
amalgamate the mercury. The resulting powder is swept up and placed in a clearly labelled plastic
container for disposal.
The collected mercury can be either disposed of or recovered. Details on how to dispose of mercury
can be obtained from local authorities and/or the supplier. The supplier can also advise on recovery
and purification.
3.2.7.2

Fire

Mercury will not burn but does give off significant concentrations of toxic fumes. After a fire,
the mercury vapour will condense on the nearest cool surfaces, contaminating large areas and
being adsorbed onto open surfaces, such as carbonized timber. During a fire, evacuate the area
and remain upwind of any fumes. Advise the fire authorities of the location and quantity of
mercury involved.
3.2.7.3

Transportation

The transportation by air of mercury or instruments containing mercury is regulated by the

International Air Transport Association. Airlines will provide the specific conditions for such
transport upon request.
Mercury, mercury compounds or mercury in manufactured items, such as thermometers, if it is
necessary to transport mercury thermometers, they should be transported by surface transport, unless
special permission is obtained IATA Hazard Class 8 corrosive; if properly packaged in a hard,
sealed container, may be allowed as hand luggage
For air transportation of mercurial barometer and thermometers: With the approval of the airline(s), a
representative of a government weather bureau or similar official agency may bring a mercurial barometer or
mercurial thermometer, as carry-on baggage only. The barometer or thermometer must be packed in a strong outer
packaging, having a sealed inner liner or a bag of strong leak-proof, puncture-resistant material impervious to
mercury, which will prevent the escape of mercury from the package irrespective of its position. The pilot-in-command
must be informed of the barometer or thermometer.

Transportation by rail or road is usually governed by the hazardous material regulations in each
country.
In general, metallic mercury must be packed in glass or plastic containers of less than 2.5 kg
capacity. The containers should be packed with sufficient cushioning to prevent breakage and should
be clearly labelled. Mercury-containing instruments should be packed in a strong cushioned case which
is leak-proof and impervious to mercury.

3.3

ELECTRONIC BAROMETERS

Most barometers with recent designs make use of transducers which transform the sensor response into
a pressure-related electrical quantity in the form of either analogue signals, for example, voltage
(DC or AC with a frequency related to the actual pressure), or digital signals, for example, pulse
frequency or with standard data communication protocols such as RS232, RS422, RS485 or IEEE488.
Analogue signals can be displayed on a variety of electronic meters. Monitors and data-acquisition
systems, such as those used in automatic weather stations, are frequently used to display digital

outputs or digitized analogue outputs.

Current digital barometer technology employs various levels of redundancy to improve the
long-term stability and accuracy of the measurements. One technique is to use three
independently operating sensors under centralized microprocessor control. Even higher
stability and reliability can be achieved by using three completely independent barometers,
incorporating three sets of pressure transducers and microprocessors. Each configuration has
automatic temperature compensation from internally mounted temperature sensors. Triple
redundancy ensures excellent long-term stability and measurement accuracy, even in the most
demanding applications. These approaches allow for continuous monitoring and verification of
the individual sensor performances.
The use of digital barometers introduces some particular operational requirements, especially
when they are used with automatic weather stations, and formal recommendations exist to ensure
good practice (see Annex VII of the Abridged Final Report of the Eleventh Session of the Commission for
Instruments and Methods of Observation, 1994, WMO-No. 807). Meteorological organizations should:
(a) Control or re-adjust the calibration setting of digital barometers upon receipt and repeat these
operations regularly (annually, until the rate of drift is determined);
(b) Ensure regular calibration of digital barometers and investigate the possibility of using
calibration facilities available nationally for this purpose;
(c) Consider that certain types of digital barometers may be used as travelling standards because of
their portability and good short-term stability;
(d) Consider that the selection of a specific type of digital barometer should not only be based on
stated instrument specifications but also on environmental conditions and maintenance
facilities.
Manufacturers should:
(a) Improve the temperature independence and the long-term stability of digital barometers;
(b) Use standardized communication interfaces and protocols for data transmission;
(c) Enable the power supply of a digital barometer to function over a large range of DC voltages
(for example, 5 to 28 VDC).
3.3.1

Aneroid displacement transducers

Contact-free measurement of the displacement of the aneroid capsule is a virtual necessity as regards
precision pressure-measuring instruments for meteorological applications. A wide variety of such
transducers are in use, including capacitive displacement detectors, potentiometric displacement
detectors, strain gauges placed at strategic points on the sensor, and force-balanced servo-systems
which keep the sensor dimensions constant regardless of pressure.
All sensitive components must be encased in a die-cast housing. This housing must be kept at a
constant temperature by an electronically controlled heater. Condensation of water must be
completely prevented. An effective technique is to put a hygroscopic agent, such as silica gel
crystals, into the die-cast housing and to prevent water vapour diffusion into the housing by
connecting a long plastic tube (approximately 25 m) with a bore of 2 mm or less between the
pressure port and a static head (see section 3.8.1).
The pressure-sensor housing must be airtight, allowing external connection to the compartment
where the pressure is to be measured.
3.3.2

Digital piezoresistive barometers

Measurements of atmospheric pressure have become possible by utilizing the piezoelectric

(piezoresistive) effect. A common configuration features four measuring resistors placed onto the
flexible surface of a monolithic silicon substratum interconnected to form a Wheatstone bridge
circuit.
Axially loaded crystalline quartz elements are used in digital piezoresistive barometers and are a
type of absolute pressure transducer. Crystalline quartz has been chosen because of its piezoelectric
properties, stable frequency characteristics, small temperature effects and precisely reproducible
frequency characteristics. Pressure applied to an inlet port causes an upward axial force by means of
flexible bellows, thus resulting in a compressive force on the quartz crystal element. Since the

crystal element is a substantially rigid membrane, the entire mechanical structure is constrained to
minute deflections, thereby virtually eliminating mechanical hysteresis.
The fully active Wheatstone bridge mentioned above may consist either of semiconductor strain gauges
or piezoresistive gauges. The strain gauges are either bonded to a thin circular diaphragm, which is
clamped along its circumference, or atomically diffused into a silicon diaphragm configuration. In
the case of diffused devices, the silicon integrated chip itself is the diaphragm. Applied pressure
presents a distributed load to the diaphragm which, in turn, provides bending stress and resultant
strains to which the strain gauges react. This stress creates a strain that is proportional to the
applied pressure and which results in a bridge imbalance. The bridge output is then proportional to
the net difference in pressure acting upon the diaphragm.
This mode of operation is based on the fact that the atmospheric pressure acts on the sensor
element covering a small evacuated cell, through which the resistors are submitted to compressive
and tensile stresses. By the piezoelectric effect, the values of resistance change proportionally
with atmospheric pressure. To eliminate temperature errors, the sensor often incorporates a
built-in thermostat.
The output from the Wheatstone bridge, which is fed from a direct-current source, is transduced
into a standard signal by an appropriate amplifier. A light-emitting diode or liquid crystal
display usually presents the measured pressure values.
In a modern version of the pressure transducer using a piezoelectric transducer, two
resonance frequencies of the piezoelectric element are determined. By calculating a linear
function of these frequencies and with an appropriate set of variables obtained after
calibration, a pressure is calculated by a microprocessor which is independent of the
temperature of the sensor.
3.3.3

Cylindrical resonator barometers

Cylindrical resonator barometers use a sensing element which is a thin-walled cylinder of nickel
alloy. This is electromagnetically maintained in a hoop mode of vibration. The input pressure
is sensed by the variation it produces in the natural resonant frequency of the vibrating
mechanical system. Cylinder wall movement is sensed by a pick-up coil whose signal is amplified
and fed back to a drive coil. The air pressure to be measured is admitted to the inside of the
cylinder, with a vacuum reference maintained on the outside. The natural resonant frequency of
vibration then varies precisely with the stress set up in the wall due to the pressure difference
across it. An increase in pressure gives rise to an increase in frequency.
The thin cylinder has sufficient rigidity and mass to cater for the pressure ranges over which it
is designed to operate, and is mounted on a solid base. The cylinder is placed in a vacuum
chamber and its inlet is connected to the free atmosphere for meteorological applications. Since
there is a unique relationship between the natural resonant frequency of the cylinder and the
pressure, the atmospheric pressure can be calculated from the measured resonant frequency.
However, this relationship, determined during calibration, depends on the temperature and the
density of the gas. Temperature compensation is therefore required and the air should be dried
before it enters the inlet.
3.3.4

Reading electronic barometers

An electronic barometer measures the atmospheric pressure of the surrounding space or any space that is
connected to it via a tube. In general, the barometer should be set to read the pressure at the level
of the instrument. On board a ship or at low-level land stations, however, the instrument may be set to
indicate the pressure at mean sea level, provided that the difference between the station pressure and
the sea-level pressure can be regarded as constant.
Electronic barometers give accurate readings on a digital read-out, normally scaled in hPa but
readily adaptable to other units, if required. Provision can usually be made for digital recording.
Trend in pressure changes can be presented if the unit is microprocessor-controlled.
The accuracy of electronic barometers depends on the accuracy of the barometers calibration, the
effectiveness of the barometers temperature compensation (residual air method, temperature

measurement and correction, use of a thermostat) and the drift with time of the barometers
calibration.
Circuits may be attached to primary transducers which correct the primary output for sensor nonlinearities and temperature effects and which convert output to standard units. Standard modern
barometer versions comprise the barometer sensor, the microcomputer unit (including the display) and
an interface circuit to communicate with any data logger or automatic weather station.
Electronic barometers which have more than one transducer or sensing element generally calculate a
weighted mean of the outputs from each of the sensors and establish the resultant pressure with a
resolution of 0.1 hPa. During calibration, each of the sensing elements can be checked with a
resolution of 0.01 hPa. This should not lead operators to believe that the sensor accuracy is better
than 0.1 hPa (see section 3.10.3.4).
3.3.5

Errors and faults with electronic barometers

3.3.5.1

Calibration drift

Calibration drift is one of the key sources of error with electronic barometers. It is often greater
when the barometer is new and decreases with the passage of time. Step jumps in calibration may
occur.
In order to maintain the acceptable performance of a barometer, the calibration corrections applied
to the readings must be checked at relatively frequent intervals, for example, annually, for early
detection and replacement of defective sensors.
The need to check frequently the calibration of electronic barometers imposes an additional burden on
National Meteorological Services, particularly on those with extensive barometer networks. The
ongoing cost of calibration must be taken into consideration when planning to replace mercury
barometers with electronic barometers.
3.3.5.2

Temperature

Electronic barometers must be kept at a constant temperature if the calibration is to be maintained.

It is also preferable that the temperature be near the calibration temperature. However, many
commercially available electronic barometers are not temperature-controlled and are prone to greater
error. Most depend on accurate temperature measurement of the sensing element and electronic
correction of the pressure. This assumes that there are no thermal gradients within the sensing
element of the barometer. In situations where the temperature changes reasonably quickly, this can
result in short-term hysteresis errors in the measured pressure.
The change in calibration is also highly dependent on the thermal history of the barometer. Prolonged
exposure to temperatures that differ from the calibration temperature can result in medium to longterm calibration shifts.
The electronics of the barometer can also introduce errors if it is not held at the same temperature
as the sensor element. Electronic barometers are very often used in extreme climatic conditions,
especially in automatic weather stations. In these situations, the barometer can be exposed to
temperatures well in excess of its manufacturers design and calibration specifications.
3.3.5.3

Electrical interference

As with all sensitive electronic measurement devices, electronic barometers should be shielded and
kept away from sources of strong magnetic fields, such as transformers, computers, radar, and so
forth. Although this is not often a problem, it can cause an increase in noise, with a resultant
decrease in the precision of the device.
3.3.5.4

Nature of operation

Apparent changes in the calibration of an electronic barometer can be caused by differences in the
way in which the barometer is operated during calibration, as compared with its operational use. A
pressure read on a barometer that is run continuously and, therefore, warmed up will read differently

from that read in a pulsed fashion every few seconds.

3.4

ANEROID BAROMETERS

3.4.1

Construction requirements

The greatest advantages of conventional aneroid barometers over mercury barometers are their
compactness and portability, which make them particularly convenient for use at sea or in the field.
The principal components are a closed metal chamber, completely or partly evacuated, and a strong
spring system that prevents the chamber from collapsing under the external atmospheric pressure. At
any given pressure, there will be an equilibrium between the force caused by the spring and that of
the external pressure.
The aneroid chamber may be made of materials (steel or beryllium copper) that have elastic
properties such that the chamber itself can act as a spring.
A means is required to detect and display the changes in deflection which occur. This may be a
system of levers that amplify the deflections and drive a pointer over a scale graduated to
indicate the pressure. Alternatively, a ray of light may be deviated over the scale. Instead of
these mechanical analogue techniques, certain barometers are provided with a manually operated
micrometer whose counter indicates the pressure directly in tenths of a hectopascal. A reading
is taken when a luminous indicator signals that the micrometer has just made contact with the
aneroid. This type of aneroid is portable and robust.
3.4.2

Accuracy requirements

The chief requirements of a good aneroid barometer are as follows:

(a) It should be compensated for temperature so that the reading does not change by more than
0.3 hPa for a change in temperature of 30 K;
(b) The scale errors at any point should not exceed 0.3 hPa and should remain within this tolerance
over periods of at least one year, when in normal use;
(c) The hysteresis should be sufficiently small to ensure that the difference in reading before a
change in pressure of 50 hPa and after a return to the original value does not exceed 0.3 hPa;
(d) It should be capable of withstanding ordinary transit risks without introducing inaccuracies
beyond the limits specified above.

3.4.3

Reading aneroid barometers

3.4.3.1

Accuracy of readings

An aneroid barometer should always be read in the same orientation (vertical or horizontal) as
during calibration. It should be tapped lightly before being read. As far as possible, it should
be read to the nearest 0.1 hPa. Optical and digital devices are available for improving the
reading accuracy and reducing the errors caused by mechanical levers.
3.4.3.2

Corrections applied to aneroid barometers

In general, aneroid barometers should be set to read the pressure at the level of the
instrument. On board a ship or at low-lying land stations, however, the instrument may be set
to indicate the pressure at mean sea level, provided that the difference between the station
pressure and the sea-level pressure can be regarded as constant. The readings should be
corrected for instrumental errors, but the instrument is usually assumed to be sufficiently
compensated for temperature, and it needs no correction for gravity.
3.4.4

Errors and faults with aneroid barometers

3.4.4.1

Incomplete compensation for temperature

In an aneroid barometer, if the spring is weakened by an increase in temperature, the pressure

indicated by the instrument will be too high. This effect is generally compensated for in one of the
following ways:
(a) By means of a bimetallic link in the lever system; or
(b) By leaving a certain amount of gas inside the aneroid chamber.
In most ordinary aneroid barometers, the compensation obtained by these methods is complete only
at one particular compensation pressure. It is desirable that all aneroid barometers and
barographs used at meteorological stations should be properly compensated for temperatures over
the full range of pressure. In digital read-out systems suitable for automation, such complete
corrections can be applied as part of the electronic system.
3.4.4.2

Elasticity errors

An aneroid barometer may be subjected to a large and rapid change in pressure. For example, a strong
gust of wind would cause an aneroid barometer to experience a rapid increase in pressure followed by
a more gradual return to the original value. In such circumstances, the instrument will, owing to
hysteresis, indicate a slightly different reading from the true pressure; a considerable time may
elapse before this difference becomes negligible. However, since aneroids and barographs at surface
stations are not usually directly exposed to such pressure changes, their hysteresis errors are not
excessive.
There is also a secular error caused by slow changes in the metal of the aneroid capsule. This effect
can be allowed for only by comparison at regular intervals, for example, annually, with a standard
barometer. A good aneroid barometer should retain an accuracy of 0.1 hPa over a period of one year or
more. In order to detect departures from this accuracy by individual barometers, a regular inspection
procedure with calibration and adjustment as necessary should be instituted.

3.5

BAROGRAPHS

3.5.1

General requirements

Of the various types of barographs, only the aneroid barograph will be dealt with in detail here. For
synoptic purposes, it is recommended that charts for barographs:
(a) Be graduated in hPa;
(b) Be readable to 0.1 hPa;
(c) Have a scale factor of 10 hPa to 1.5 cm on the chart.
In addition, the following requirements are desirable:
(a) The barograph should employ a first-class aneroid unit (see section 3.5.2);
(b) The barograph should be compensated for temperature, so that the reading does not change by
more than 1 hPa for a 20 K change in temperature;
(c) Scale errors should not exceed 1.5 hPa at any point;
(d) Hysteresis should be sufficiently small to ensure that the difference in reading before a
change in pressure of 50 hPa and after a return to the original value does not exceed 1
hPa;
(e) There should be a time-marking arrangement that allows the marks to be made without lifting
the cover;
(f) The pen arm should be pivoted in a gate, the axis of which should be inclined in such a
way that the pen rests on the chart through the effects of gravity. A means of adjustment
should be provided for setting the position of the pen.
Marine barographs are subject to special requirements, which are considered in Part II, Chapter
4.

3.5.2

Construction of barographs

The principle of the aneroid barograph is similar to that of the aneroid barometer, except
that a recording pen is used instead of a pointer. This involves some change in the design
of the capsule stack, and usually means a decrease in the overall magnification and an

increase in the number and size of the capsules used.

The control of the barograph may be expressed as the force required to move the pointer over
one unit of the scale (1 hPa) and is, thus, equal to the force required to prevent the pen from
moving when the pressure changes by 1 hPa. It is a measure of the effect that friction is likely
to have on the details of the record.
The force required to overcome the movement of the capsule when the pressure changes by 1 hPa is
100 A newtons, where A is the effective cross-sectional area of the capsule in square metres. If
the magnification is X, the force necessary to keep the pen from moving is 100 A/X newtons and
varies as A/X. For a given type of capsule and scale value, the value of X will be largely
independent of A, so that the control of a barograph pen may be considered to vary approximately
with the effective cross-sectional area of the capsule.
3.5.3

Sources of error and inaccuracy

In addition to the sources of error mentioned for the aneroid (see section 3.4.4), the friction
between the pen and the paper is important. The control of the pen depends largely on the
effective cross-section of the aneroid. In a well-made barograph, the friction of the pen is
appreciably greater than the total friction at all the pivots and bearings of the instrument;
special attention should, therefore, be given to reduce such errors, for example, by having a
sufficiently large aneroid capsule.
A first-class barograph should be capable of an uncertainty of about 0.2 hPa after corrections have
been applied and should not alter for a period of one or two months. The barometric change read from
such a barograph should usually be obtained within the same limits.
3.5.4

Instruments with dataprocessing capability

A barometer suitable for automated reading can be linked to a computer, typically a microprocessor,
which can be programmed to provide suitably sampled data. These data, in turn, can be presented
graphically to provide records similar to those supplied by a barograph. Models are available that
print their own scales, thereby eliminating one source of error.
3.5.5

Reading a barograph

The barograph should be read without touching the instrument. The time mark and any inspection of the
instrument involving lifting the cover, and so on, should always be made after the reading is
completed.
3.5.5.1

Accuracy of readings

The chart should be read to the nearest 0.1 hPa. The barometric change should be obtained within the
same resolution limits.
3.5.5.2

Corrections to be applied to barograph readings

The temperature compensation of each individual instrument should be tested before the instrument is
used, and the scale factor should be adjusted by testing in a vacuum chamber. If the barograph is
used only to find the barometric change, the corrections are not usually applied to the readings. In
this case, the accurate setting of the pen position is not important. When absolute pressure values
are required from the barograph, the record should be compared with the corrected readings of a
mercury barometer or a good aneroid barometer at least once every 24 h and the desired values found
by interpolation.

3.6

BOURDONTUBE BAROMETERS

Bourdon-tube barometers usually consist of a sensor element that, as for an aneroid capsule, changes
its shape under the influence of pressure changes (pressure transducers) and a transducer that
transforms the changes into a form directly usable by the observer. The display may be remote from
the sensor. Precise and stable digital instruments with quartz Bourdon tubes are used as working

reference barometers in calibration laboratories.

3.7

BAROMETRIC CHANGE

Two methods are available to stations making observations at least every 3 h as follows:
(a) The change can be read from the barograph; or
(b) The change can be obtained from appropriate readings of the barometer, corrected to station
level. If the choice is between an ordinary mercury barometer and a first-class open-scale
barograph, the latter should be selected for the reasons outlined below.
The error of a single barometric reading is mainly random, assuming that the barometer functions
perfectly. Therefore, when two independent readings are subtracted to find the amount of change, the
errors may be cumulative. Barograph errors are partly systematic in nature, so that in the relatively
short period of 3 h, the errors are likely to have the same sign and would, therefore, be diminished
by subtraction.
A further reason for using the barograph is the convenience of avoiding the need to correct
barometric readings to station level. In any case, the barograph must be used to ascertain the
characteristic of the barometric change.
Barometers with digital displays are also very suitable for determining the magnitude and character
of a pressure change.
3.8

GENERAL EXPOSURE REQUIREMENTS

It is important that the location of barometers at observation stations be selected with great
care. The main requirements of the place of exposure are uniform temperature, good light, a
draught-free environment, a solid and vertical mounting, and protection against rough handling.
The instrument should, therefore, be hung or placed in a room in which the temperature is
constant, or changes only slowly, and in which gradients of temperature do not occur. The
barometer should be shielded from direct sunshine at all times and should not be placed near any
heating apparatus or where there is a draught.
3.8.1

The effect of wind

It should be noted that the effects of wind apply to all types of barometers. More information on
wind effects is found in Liu and Darkow (1989).
A barometer will not give a true reading of the static pressure if it is influenced by gusty
wind. Its reading will fluctuate with the wind speed and direction and with the magnitude and
sign of the fluctuations, depending also on the nature of the rooms openings and their position
in relation to the direction of the wind. At sea, error is always present due to the ships
motion. A similar problem will arise if the barometer is installed in an air-conditioned room.
Wind can often cause dynamic changes of pressure in the room where the barometer is placed. These
fluctuations are superimposed on the static pressure and, with strong and gusty wind, may amount
to 2 or 3 hPa. It is usually impractical to correct for such fluctuations because the pumping
effect on the mercury surface is dependent on both the direction and the force of the wind, as
well as on the local circumstances of the barometers location. Thus, the mean value does
not only represent the true static pressure. When comparing barometers in different buildings,
the possibility of a difference in readings due to the wind effect should be borne in mind.
It is possible to overcome this effect to a very large extent by using a static head between the
exterior atmosphere and the inlet port of the sensor. Details concerning the operating principles
of static heads can be found in several publications (Miksad, 1976; United States Weather Bureau,
1963). For a mercury barometer, the barometer cistern must be made airtight except for a lead to
a special head exposed to the atmosphere and designed to ensure that the pressure inside is true
static pressure. Aneroid and electronic barometers usually have simple connections to allow for
the use of a static head, which should be located in an open environment not affected by the
proximity of buildings. The design of such a head requires careful attention. Static pressure
heads are commercially available, but there is no published literature on intercomparisons to

demonstrate their performance.

3.8.2

The effects of air conditioning

Air conditioning may create a significant pressure differential between the inside and outside of a
room. Therefore, if a barometer is to be installed in an air-conditioned room, it is advisable to use
a static head with the barometer which will couple it to the air outside the building.

3.9

BAROMETER EXPOSURE

3.9.1

Exposure of mercury barometers

The general exposure requirements of mercury barometers have been outlined in the preceding
sections. Mercury barometers have additional exposure requirements above those already mentioned.
It is always preferable to hang the mercury barometer on an inside wall. For very accurate work,
the best position would be in an unheated basement room with no windows and with a small electric
fan to prevent any stratification of temperature.
In order to obtain uniform lighting conditions for reading the barometer, it is advisable to use
artificial lighting for all observations. For this purpose, some sort of illuminator which can
provide a white and slightly luminous background for the mercury meniscus and, if necessary, for
the fiducial point may be provided. If no illuminator is used, care should be taken to provide
the meniscus and the fiducial point with a light background, by such means as pieces of milk
glass, white celluloid, or a sheet of white paper. Artificial light should also be provided for
reading the barometer scale and the attached thermometer. Care should, however, be taken to guard
against heating the barometer with artificial light during a barometer reading.
The barometer should be mounted in a place where it is not subject to vibration, preferably on a
solid wall. The instrument must be mounted with the mercury column in a vertical position. Errors due
to departure from verticality are more critical for asymmetric barometers. Such barometers should be
mounted with their longest axis vertical in order that a true setting of the mercury surface to the
fiducial point remains correct even when the instruments are tilted from the vertical.
To protect the barometer from rough handling, dust and air currents, it is recommended that the
instrument be placed in a box furnished with a hinged door with provisions for sufficient ventilation
to prevent stratification of the air inside.
Great care should be taken when transporting a mercury barometer. The safest method is to carry
the barometer upside down in a wooden case furnished with a sling. If the barometer cannot be
accompanied by a responsible person, it ought to be transported in a suitable sprung crate with
the cistern uppermost. The barometer should not be subject to violent movements and must always
be turned over very slowly. Special precautions must be taken for some individual types of
barometers before the instrument is turned over.
3.9.2

Exposure of electronic barometers

Electronic barometers require a clean, dry atmosphere that is free of corrosive substances. The
barometer should also be kept at a constant temperature (see section 3.3.5.2). The instrument should
be mounted in such a manner as to avoid mechanical shock and vibration. It should also be mounted
away from electromagnetic sources, where this is not possible, the wires and casing should be
shielded.
Barometers with digital read-outs should be mounted where there is good general lighting, but should
not face a window or other strong light sources.
3.9.3

Exposure of aneroid barometers

The exposure requirements for aneroid barometers are similar to those for mercury barometers (see
section 3.9.1) owing to the fact that such instruments may not be perfectly compensated for the
effects of temperature. The place selected for mounting the device should preferably have a fairly
uniform temperature throughout the day. Therefore, a location is required where the barometer is
shielded from the direct rays of the sun and from other sources of either heat or cold, which can

cause abrupt and marked changes in its temperature.

At land stations, it is an advantage to have the aneroid barometer installed in the vicinity of a
mercury barometer for cross-checking and standardization purposes (see section 3.10).
3.9.4

Exposure of barographs

The barograph should be installed where it is protected from sudden changes in temperature and
from vibration and dust. It should not be exposed to direct sunshine. The barograph should also
be placed at a location where it is unlikely to be tampered with by unauthorized persons.
Mounting the barograph on a sponge rubber cushion is a convenient means of reducing the effects
of vibration. The site selected should be clean and dry. The air should also be relatively free
of substances which would cause corrosion, fouling of the mechanism, and the like.
It is important to mount the instrument so that its face will be at a convenient height to be
read at eye-level under normal operating conditions with a view to minimizing the effects of
parallax. The exposure ought to be such that the barometer is uniformly illuminated, with
artificial lighting being provided if necessary.
If a barograph has to be transported by air or transported at a high altitude, the pen arm should
be disconnected and precautions should be taken to ensure that the mechanism is able to withstand
the overload caused by exceeding the normal measuring range of the instrument.

3.10

COMPARISON, CALIBRATION AND MAINTENANCE

3.10.1

General requirements of a barometer comparison

In view of the importance of accurate pressure observations, especially for aeronautical and synoptic
purposes, and of the various possible errors to which mercury barometers are subject, all station
barometers should be checked regularly by an inspector. Some guidance is given in the following
sections regarding the equipment to be used for checks, the frequency with which these should be
carried out, and other related topics. Where precision aneroid barometers are used as station
barometers, they should be checked frequently (at least once every week) against a mercury or digital
barometer, and a permanent record of all such checks should be kept on a suitable card or in a
special log-book.
Alternatively, mercury barometers can be dispensed with if a daily comparison, both with a second
aneroid barometer kept at the station and with analysed pressures in the vicinity, is undertaken.
This should be supported by six monthly checks with a travelling standard.
The following symbols may be used to denote various categories of barometers in a National
Meteorological Service:
A: A primary or secondary standard barometer capable of independent determination of pressure
to an uncertainty of 0.05 hPa or less;
B: A working standard barometer of a design suitable for routine pressure comparisons and with
known errors, which have been established by comparison with a primary or secondary
standard;
C: A reference standard barometer used for comparisons of travelling standard and station
barometers at field supervising stations of a National Meteorological Service;
S: A barometer (mercury, aneroid, electronic) located at an ordinary meteorological station;
P: A mercury barometer of good quality and accuracy, which may be carried from one station to
another and still retain calibration;
N: A portable precision aneroid barometer of first quality;
Q: A portable precision digital barometer of first quality, to be used as a travelling standard
(Q stands for quality);
M: A portable microbarograph of good quality and accuracy.
In order that barometer correction programmes be conducted on the same basis by all National
Meteorological Services, it is desirable that uniform practices be followed in the quality of the
equipment used, the frequency of comparisons, the procedures to be followed, the permissible
changes in index correction, and the criteria for remedial action.

3.10.2

Equipment used for barometer comparisons

3.10.2.1

Primary standard barometer (A)

There are different opinions regarding the best type of primary standard barometer (WMO, 2010c).
Two types are outlined in the following paragraphs.
One possible primary standard for atmospheric pressure consists of a precision dead weight tester
that produces a calibrated pressure related to the precision weights used and the local gravity
field. This type of barometer is relatively simple and does not suffer from the problem of excessive
drift experienced by mercury barometers in a polluted environment.
The primary standard barometer may well be a high-quality mercury barometer specially designed for
that purpose. The primary standard mercury barometer must have a high vacuum, contain very pure
mercury with a well-known density maintained at a constant temperature, and be located in an
environment where pollution effects are prevented. The barometer also needs a calibrated measure
(scale) and an optical read-out facility. These types of barometers measure absolute pressure with
high absolute accuracy, while dead weight testers are gauge pressure measuring instruments.
Taking into account the cost of such primary standards and constraints on their use and
maintenance, these barometers are most frequently used in high-level calibration laboratories.
national meteorological services are not required to have such equipment in order to assure
traceability of barometers used in the stations, however, their traceability can be ensured through
a calibration of standards (type B or C) using primary standards of the national institutes of
metrology (NIM) or those of the WMO regional instrument centres (RIC).
3.10.2.2

Working standard barometer (B)

The working and reference standards, and the travelling standards used to compare barometers,
should have high stability over long periods. These standards may be either mercury
or electronic barometers. In the case of mercury barometers, they should have a tube
with at least a 12 mm bore. It is also desirable that barometers be instruments in
which the vacuum can be checked. They should be fully and carefully corrected for all
known errors, which should have been established by two or more recent comparisons
with barometers of a higher category.

3.10.2.3

Travelling standard barometer (C)

A reliable travelling standard barometer must retain its index correction during transit to
within 0.1 hPa. It should be standardized with reference to the working or reference standard
before and after each tour. Once standardized, it should on no account be opened or adjusted in
any fashion until after the final comparison at the station of origin of the tour. A travelling
standard barometer needs to be carried in a high-quality, cushioned travelling case to protect it
during transit. Taking into account restrictions related to mercury transportation and the
ongoing development of digital barometers, Nnational Mmeteorological Sservices may use
appropriate and high precision digital barometer as travelling standard barometer. In this
context, the Nnational Mmeteorological Sservice should regularly control the drift of such
instruments by proceeding to regular comparison with regards to working or reference standards.
In case of a mercury travelling standard, and Before before the beginning of a tour, a the
mercury travelling standard should be examined carefully and checked to ensure that the mercury
in the tube and cistern is clean, that there are no bubbles in the tube, and that the vacuum
above the mercury in the tube is good. Every care should be taken in handling, packing and
transporting travelling standards so that there is the least possible cause for any change,
however slight, in their index correction. Quick, jerky movements which might cause air bubbles
from the tube cistern to rise in the tube should be avoided. Mercury travelling standards should
be carried in a suitably cushioned leather or metal case, with the cistern end always higher than
the tube.

3.10.2.4

Specifications of portable mercury barometers (P)

If a mercury barometer is to be used as a category P barometer, it must be designed so that the

vacuum can be checked or so that a good degree of vacuum can be established at the top of the tube
with a vacuum pump. A check valve for sealing the tube is essential. It should also have the property
of high stability over long periods and have a tube with at least a 12 mm bore. Another desirable
feature is a means of determining whether the quantity of mercury in the fixed cistern has remained
constant since the original filling.
Also, a well-built Fortin-type barometer with a tube bore of at least 9 mm, but preferably 12 mm, can
be used as a travelling standard. The degree of accuracy (as regards repeatability) considered
necessary for a travelling standard is about 0.1 hPa. Category P barometers should be calibrated over
a wide pressure and temperature range, covering all possible values likely to be encountered.
3.10.2.5

Specifications of portable electronic barometers (QP)

Portable electronic barometers have now reached the level of development and reliability to allow
them to be used as a category P Q barometer. The barometer must have a history of reliability
with low drift corrections, as determined by several comparisons with a standard barometer both
over a period of one year or more and over the maximum pressure range in which the barometer must
be expected to operate.
Electronic barometers with multiple pressure transducers under independent microprocessor control
are preferred. The temperature-compensation mechanism for the barometer must be proven to be
accurate. The method for taking measurements from the pressure transducer must be contact-free
and the barometer itself sufficiently robust to withstand the type of shock that may be
encountered during transportation.
3.10.3

Barometer comparison

3.10.3.1

International barometer comparison

Great importance is attached to international barometer comparisons. The WMO Automatic Digital
Barometer Intercomparison was carried out in De Bilt (Netherlands) from 1989 to 1991. Only by such
comparisons is it possible to ensure consistency in the national standards of pressure-measuring
instruments and thus prevent discontinuities in pressure data across international boundaries. The
recommended procedure for such comparisons is given in section 3.10.4.
The programme of comparisons includes the following:
(a) Comparison of national working standard B with primary or secondary standard barometer A,
at least once every two years. If barometers A and B are located at the same centre, no
travelling standards are required;
(b) Comparison of reference standard C with national working standard B, at least once every two years
by means of travelling standards;
(c) Comparison of station barometer S with reference standard C, at least once every year, by means
of travelling standards, or by comparison with the working standard B, every one to two years,
depending upon the known characteristics of the barometers being used. It is a matter of policy
whether the comparison occurs at the station or at a central calibration facility. In the latter
case, travelling standards are not required.
It should be understood that the error of each barometer at the end of any link in a chain of
comparison is determined with respect to the primary or secondary standard barometer A, so that the
results of corrected barometric pressure readings are on an absolute basis at each stage.
3.10.3.2

Inspection of station barometers

For the inspection of station barometers, Fortin barometers with a tube bore of 9 mm are suitable;
however, note section 3.2.7.3 on restrictions on the carriage of mercury instruments. Precision
aneroid barometers and eElectronic barometers may also be used as travelling standards, provided
that they have the necessary stability and accuracy. It is recommended that three or more such
instruments be used at a time, so that any change in any one instrument can be detected

immediately. An aneroid barometer used for this purpose must not suffer from hysteresis effects.
Furthermore, it should have a negligible temperature coefficient. These features can be obtained
only by using special materials and designs. An essential feature of a suitable instrument is
that the aneroid capsule should not be loaded by the indicating mechanism. Barometers with
digital read-outs are very convenient as travelling standards, provided that their stability is
good enough.
3.10.3.3

Procedure for the comparison of mercury barometers

The instructions given in previous sections should be generally followed. All normal precautions
necessary while setting and reading barometers should be enforced with great care. Investigations
show that readings averaging within 0.05 hPa can normally be achieved in a barometer comparison
if adequate precautions are taken.
Comparative readings of the barometers should be entered in appropriate forms. A permanent record
of all checks should be attached to the instrument and should include such information as the
date of the check, the temperature and pressure at which the comparison was made, and the
correction obtained.
Reports of barometer comparisons should be forwarded to the National Meteorological Service for
evaluating errors, computing and issuing corrections, and determining the need for remedial
action. Continuous records of the comparison data should be kept for each station barometer for a
study of its performance over a period of years and for the detection of defects. Tabular and/or
graphical records are useful visual tools for a barometer quality control programme.
3.10.3.4

Checking electronic barometers

At the current state of development, it is important to calibrate electronic barometers at

intervals of about one year. It is standard procedure to calibrate an electronic barometer at a
calibration facility immediately before its dispatch to a meteorological observation station. At
the station, a number of comparison readings of pressure between the electronic barometer and the
travelling standard should be taken at different pressures (either over a period of several days or
using a pressure generator). The readings should be taken with all barometers at the same height,
when the wind speed is less than 12 m s1 and when the pressure is either steady or changing by less
than 1 hPa h1. Any electronic barometer whose mean difference from the travelling standard
exceeds 0.25 hPa should be regarded as unserviceable and returned to the calibration facility for
recalibration.
If at all possible, it is advisable to install two independent electronic barometers at a
meteorological observing station, with one barometer preferably having a history of low drift.
This barometer is identified by the calibration facility staff from its calibration history and
is identified as a low-drift barometer. With the arrival of each new barometer at a station, a
set of comparison readings are taken, as described above, and the mean difference between the
low-drift barometer and the new barometer is established. Once this is accomplished, daily
readings from both barometers should be taken and a running sum of 25 differences calculated. If
the new barometer and the low-drift barometer exhibit different rates of drift, the sums of the
25 differences will change. If a station has one mercury barometer and one electronic barometer,
it would be normal for the mercury barometer to be the low-drift barometer. The low drift of the
mercury barometer should still be verified by regular calibration checks.
These checks do not represent an inspection or a new calibration of the electronic barometer.
Every National Meteorological Service should establish detailed inspection and
calibration procedures for its electronic barometers, with the above method being
used as a practical guide.

3.10.4

General procedure recommended for the comparison of barometers at different locations

The comparison of barometers is essential and should be undertaken in the following ways:

(a) If barometer 1 is to be compared with barometer 2, a qualified person should carry

three or morethe travelling standard(s), preferably of the P or Q category, from barometer
1 to barometer 2, and then return to 1, thus closing the circuit. This procedure
is applicable both between and within countries. Barometer 1 is usually at the central
laboratory of a national standards organization or at the laboratory of a National
Meteorological Service. Barometer 2 is at some other location. The carrying of category
N and M standards is optional, and M may be omitted if microbarographs of good quality are
installed at the two locations;
(b) For standardization purposes, the travelling standards should be placed next to the
barometer to be compared and all the instruments given equal exposure for at least 24 h
before official comparative readings are begun. An air current from an electric fan played
on the instruments will aid in equalizing their temperature. The tempera-ture of the room
should be kept as uniform as practicable;
Note:

The fan should be turned off before comparisons are made.

(c) Comparative readings should not be taken if category M standards show the pressure to be
fluctuating rapidly. Preference should be given to barometrically quiet periods (pressure
steady or changing only slowly) for making the comparisons;
(d) Comparative readings should be taken at uniform intervals of no less than 15 min in
duration;
(e) Experience indicates that at least five comparative readings are required for category S
barometers at ordinary stations. At least 10 comparative barometer readings are required for
barometers in categories A, B or C for standardization purposes;
(f) If meteorological conditions permit, the comparative readings in the latter cases should be
taken at different pressures covering both high and low pressures;
(g) Records should include the attached thermometer observations, the readings of the travelling
standards and barometers being compared, the wind speed, direction and gustiness, the
corrections for gravity, temperature and instrumental error, the actual elevation above sea
level of the zero point of the barometers, and the latitude, longitude, place name and date
and time of observations;
(h) The readings of category N barometers, if used, should include the readings of two or more
precision aneroid barometers, corrected to a common reference, if standardization against
instruments of category A or B shows them to differ in calibration. The correct readings of
the aneroid barometers must be in agreement within tolerances appropriate to the instrument,
otherwise the comparisons will be regarded as invalid;
(i) With respect to comparisons using travelling standards, barometer 1 must be the highest
class of standard barometer available at the point of departure. Barometer 1 should be
of category A, B or Br (see section 3.10.5.1), with category C being the lowest acceptable
quality. Two sets of comparisons of the travelling standards are necessary with barometer
1, at the following points in time:
(i) Before the travelling standards are carried by hand from where barometer 1 is located to
the place where barometer 2 is located;
(ii) After the return of the travelling standards to their point of origin, following
transit to and from the location of barometer 2. The before and after
comparisons should be checked against each other. If agreement with barometer 1 is
within satisfactory tolerances for each of the instruments involved, it can be assumed
that the comparisons between the travelling standards and barometer 2 are also
within the required tolerances, provided that due care has been taken during all phases
of the comparison process. However, if there is a significant disagreement or if a known
mishap has occurred which might have affected the instruments, or if the validity of the
comparison data is in question for any reason, the comparison exercise is deemed invalid
and the whole process must be repeated;
(j) As far as practical, all discrepancies should finally be expressed with respect to a primary or
secondary reading of a of category A barometer. This will ensure a common basis for all
comparisons. In each case, the report of comparisons should indicate the standard used;
Note:
When a programme involving the elimination of residual barometric errors is adopted, there will be a homogeneous
system of barometric observational data conforming to a single standard, which will permit the elimination of errors in
horizontal pressure gradients from instrumental sources.

(k) Comparisons are necessary both before and after the relocation of barometers at a laboratory or a
station, or the cleaning of the mercury, to ensure early detection of the development of a defect.

3.10.5

Regional barometer comparison

3.10.5.1

Nomenclature and symbols

Symbols denoting barometer categories are as follows:

AR: A barometer of category A which has been selected by regional agreement as a reference standard
for barometers of that Region;
B R: A barometer of category B which the National Meteorological Services of the Region agree
to use as the standard barometer for that Region, in the event that the category A
barometer is unavailable in the Region.
Annex 3.B contains the list of regional standard barometers.
3.10.5.2

System of interregional comparison

The following measures must be considered when planning interregional comparisons:

(a) Member countries in each Region will designate a primary or secondary standard barometer A
to serve as Ar for the Region. If a primary or secondary barometer is not available within
the Region, a category B barometer will be designated jointly as the regional standard
barometer for that Region, with the barometer so chosen being denoted by the symbol Br.
Relative costs will determine whether a Region may deem it advantageous to designate more
than one standard barometer;
(b) A competent person carrying travelling standard barometers will travel from a central
station equipped with a barometer of category Ar to a nearby Region equipped with a
barometer of at least category B or Br. A comparison of the barometers should then be
performed in accordance with the method outlined in section 3.10.3 in case of comparison
conducted in ambient conditions. Otherwise, in presence of a automatic pressure
generatorcontroller, the comparison may be made for several pressure calibration points
covering the whole range and in preference atover several cycles so it could be possible to
define accuracy of the standards at different pressure levels and also to define some
metrological characteristics such as hysteresis, repeatability, reproducibility,... etc. For
the purposes of verification and intercomparison, it is sometimes desirable to repeat the
process by comparing the Br barometer with a barometer of category Ar from a different
Region;
(c) Copies of the comparison records should be transmitted to each of the central stations
equipped with a category A barometer and to the station where the barometer B or Br compared
is located. Summaries of the comparison results should be forwarded to all National
Meteorological Services in the Region where the barometer B or Br is located.
3.10.5.3

System of international comparison within a Region

The following measures must be considered when planning international comparisons:

(a) Each National Meteorological Service will compare its category B barometer with the category
A barometer within the Region, if available, using the system outlined in section 3.10.4.
Where possible, preference should be given to the category A barometer for the Region as the
standard instrument for the area;
(b) When a category A barometer is not available in the Region, the category B barometers of the
respective National Meteorological Service of the Region will be compared with the category Br
barometer for the Region, in accordance with section 3.10.4;
(c) When a competent person is engaged in the execution of the programme to compare barometers of
categories B with Br, it is desirable that additional en route comparisons be made with
barometers of categories B and C, while the person is travelling both to and from the station
where the instrument Br for the Region is located;
(d) Copies of records and summaries of comparisons will be prepared and forwarded to interested
agencies as outlined in paragraph 3.10.5.2 (c).

3.11

ADJUSTMENT OF BAROMETER READINGS TO OTHER LEVELS

In order to compare barometer readings taken at stations at different altitudes, it is

necessary to reduce them to the same level. Various methods are in use for carrying out this
reduction, but WMO has not yet recommended a particular method, except in the case of low-level
stations.
The recommended method is described in WMO (1954;, 1964;, 1968). WMO (1966) contains a comprehensive
set of formulae that may be used for calculations involving pressure.
3.11.1

Standard levels

The observed atmospheric pressure should be reduced to mean sea level (see Part I, Chapter 1) for
all stations where this can be done with reasonable accuracy. Where this is not possible, a
station should, by regional agreement, report either the geopotential of an agreed constant
pressure level or the pressure reduced to an agreed datum for the station. The level chosen for
each station should be reported to the WMO Secretariat for promulgation.
Reduction formula for sea-level pressure feasible for stations below 750 m (from WMO, 1964,
p. 22, equation 2):
(3.1)
where p0 is the pressure reduced to sea level in hPa; pS is the station pressure in hPa; Kp is the
constant = 0.0148275 K / gpm; Hp is the station elevation in gpm; Tmv is the mean virtual
temperature in K; TS is the station temperature in K; TS = 273,15 + t , t is the station temperature
in C; a is the assumed lapse-rate in the fictitious air column extending from sea level to the
level of the station elevation level = 0.0065 K / gpm; eS is the vapour pressure at the station in
hPa; and Ch is the coefficient = 0.12 K / hPa.
The same formula is often used in the exponential form:
(3.2)
where gn is the standard acceleration of gravity = 9.806 65 m s2 and R is the gas constant of dry air
= 287,05 J /kg / K.
3.11.2

Lowlevel stations

At low-level stations (namely, those at a height of less than 50 m above mean sea level),
pressure readings should be reduced to mean sea level by adding to the station pressure a
reduction constant C given by the following expression:
C = p . Hp /29.27 Tv

(3.3)

where p is the observed station pressure in hectopascals; Hp is the station elevation in metres;
and Tv is the mean annual normal value of virtual temperature at the station in kelvins.
Note: The virtual temperature of damp air is the temperature at which dry air of the same pressure would have the same
density as the damp air. WMO (1966) contains virtual temperature increments of saturated moist air for various pressures and
temperatures.

This procedure should be employed only at stations of such low elevation that when the absolute
extreme values of virtual temperature are substituted for Tv in the equation, the deviation of the
result due to the other approximations of the equation (used for height rather than standard
geopotential, and with C to be small compared with p) is negligible in comparison.
3.12

PRESSURE TENDENCY AND PRESSURE TENDENCY CHARACTERISTIC

At surface synoptic observing stations, pressure tendency and the pressure tendency characteristic
should be derived from pressure observations from the last 3 h (over 24 h in tropical regions).
Typically, the pressure tendency characteristic can be expressed by the shape of the curve recorded
by a barograph during the 3 h period preceding an observation (WMO, 2010b). In the case of hourly
observations, the amount and characteristic can be based on only four observations, and
misinterpretations may result. Therefore, it is recommended that the characteristic should be
determined on a higher frequency of observations, for example with 10 min intervals (WMO, 1985). Nine

types of pressure tendency characteristics are defined (see WMO, 2010a, p. II-4-8).

ANNEX 3.A
CORRECTION OF BAROMETER READINGS TO STANDARD CONDITIONS
Correction for index error
The residual errors in the graduation of the scale of a barometer should be determined by comparison
with a standard instrument. They may include errors due to inaccurate positioning or subdividing of
the scale, capillarity and imperfect vacuum. Certificates of comparison with the standard should
state the corrections to be applied for index error at no fewer than four points of the scale, for
example, at every 50 hPa. In a good barometer, these corrections should not exceed a few tenths of a
hectopascal.
Corrections for gravity
The reading of a mercury barometer at a given pressure and temperature depends upon the value of
gravity, which in turn varies with latitude and altitude. Barometers for meteorological applications
are calibrated to yield true pressure readings at the standard gravity of 9.80665 m s2 and their
readings at any other value of gravity must be corrected. The following method is recommended for
reducing such barometer readings to standard gravity. Let B be the observed reading of the mercury
barometer, Bt the barometer reading reduced to standard temperature but not to standard gravity, and
corrected for instrumental errors, Bn be the barometer reading reduced to standard gravity and
standard temperature, and corrected for instrumental errors, Bca be the climatological average of Bt
at the station, gH the local acceleration of gravity (in m s2) at a station at latitude and
elevation H above sea level, and gn the standard acceleration of gravity, 9.80665 m s2.
The following relations are appropriate:
Bn = Bt (gH/gn)

(3.A.1)

or:
Bn = Bt + Bt [ (gH/gn) 1](3.A.2)
The approximate equation 3.A.3 may be used, provided that the results obtained do not differ by more
than 0.1 hPa from the results that would be obtained with the aid of equation 3.A.2:
Bn = Bt + Bca [(gH/gn) 1](3.A.3)
The local acceleration of gravity gH should be determined by the procedure outlined in the following
section. The values so derived should be referred to as being on the International Gravity
Standardization Net 1971 (IGSN71).
Determining local acceleration of gravity
In order to determine the local value of the acceleration of gravity at a station to a satisfactory
degree of precision, one of two techniques should be used. These techniques involve, in the first
case, the use of a gravimeter (an instrument for measuring the difference between the values of the
acceleration of gravity at two points) and, in the second case, the use of the so-called Bouguer
anomalies. Preference should be given to the gravimeter method. If neither of these methods can be
applied, the local acceleration of gravity may be calculated using a simple model of the Earth.
Use of a gravimeter
Suppose g1 represents the known local acceleration of gravity at a certain point O, usually a
gravity base station established by a geodetic organization, where g1 is on the IGSN71, and

suppose further that g represents the unknown local acceleration of gravity on the meteorological
gravity system at some other point X for which the value g is desired. Let g denote the
difference in gravity acceleration at the two places, as observed by means of a gravimeter. That
is, g is the value at point X minus the value at point O on a consistent system. Then, g is
given by equation 3.A.4:
g = g1 + g

(3.A.4)

Use of Bouguer anomalies

If a gravimeter is not available, interpolated Bouguer anomalies (AB) may be used to obtain g at
a given point. It is necessary that a contour chart of these anomalies be available from a
geodetic organization or from a network of gravity stations spaced at a density of at least one
station per 10000 km2 (no more than a 100 km distance between stations) in the vicinity of the
point.
Gravity networks of somewhat less density can be used as a basis provided that a geodetic
organization considers that this method is expected to yield more reliable results than those that
could be obtained by using a gravimeter.
The definition of the Bouguer anomaly (AB) is derivable from equation 3.A.5:
gs = (g,0)s CH + AB (3.A.5)
where (g,0)s is the theoretical value of the acceleration of gravity at latitude at sea level, as
given by the formula actually used in computing the Bouguer anomaly. This formula expresses the value
as a function of latitude in some systems. H is the elevation of the station (in metres) above sea
level at which gs is measured, gs is the observed value of the acceleration of gravity (in m s2); AB
is the Bouguer anomaly (in m s2); and C is the elevation correction factor used in computing the
Bouguer anomaly (for example, using a crustal specific gravity of 2.67, this factor is 0.000001968 m
s2).
When g is desired for a given station and has not been measured, the value of gs should be computed
by means of equation 3.A.5, provided that the appropriate value of AB for the locality of the station
can be interpolated from the aforementioned contour charts or from data representing the Bouguer
anomalies supplied by a suitable network of gravity stations, as defined.
Calculating local acceleration of gravity
If neither of the preceding methods can be applied, the local value may be calculated less accurately
according to a simple model. According to the Geodetic Reference System 1980, the theoretical value
(g0) of the acceleration of gravity at mean sea level at geographic latitude, , is computed by
means of equation 3.A.6:

g0 = 9.806 20

(1 0.002 644 2 cos 2

+ 0.000 005 8 cos2 2 )

(3.A.6)

The local value of the acceleration of gravity at a given point on the surface of the ground at a
land station is computed by means of equation 3.A.7:
g = g0 0.000 003 086 H
+ 0.000 001 118 (H H )

(3.A.7)

where g is the calculated local value of the acceleration of gravity, in m s2, at a given point;
g0 is the theoretical value of the acceleration of gravity in m s2 at mean sea level at
geographic latitude , computed according to equation 3.A.6 above; H is the actual elevation of
the given point, in metres above mean sea level; and H is the absolute value in metres of the
difference between the height of the given point and the mean height of the actual surface of the
terrain included within a circle whose radius is about 150 km, centred at the given point.
The local value of the acceleration of gravity at a given point within height H above mean sea level

of not more than about 10 km, and where that point lies over the sea water surface, is computed by
means of equation 3.A.8:

g = g0 0.000 003 086 H

0.000 006 88 (D D )

(3.A.8)

where D is the depth of water in metres below the given point; and D is the mean depth of water,
in metres, included within a circle whose radius is about 150 km centred at the given point.
At stations or points on or near the coast, the local value of acceleration of gravity should be
calculated, so far as practicable, through the use of equations 3.A.7 and 3.A.8 on a pro rata
basis, weighting the last term of equation 3.A.7 according to the relative area of land included
within the specified circle, and weighting the last term of equation 3.A.8 according to the
relative area of the sea included within the circle. The values thus obtained are then combined
algebraically to obtain a correction which is applied to the final term in the right-hand side of
both equations, as shown in equation 3.A.9:
g = g0 0.000 003 086 H + 0.000 001 118
(H H ) 0.000 006 88 (1 ) (D D ) (3.A.9)
where is the fraction of land area in the specified area, and H and D refer to the actual land and
water areas, respectively.
Corrections for temperature
Barometer readings must be corrected to the values that would have been obtained if the mercury and
the scale had been at their standard temperatures. The standard temperature for mercury barometers is
0 C. With reference to scales, some barometers have scales which read accurately at this same
temperature, but some read accurately at 20 C.
The temperature correction necessary for adjustable cistern barometers (Fortin-type barometers) is
different from that required for fixed-cistern barometers, though the principle reasons leading to
the necessity for temperature corrections are the same for both types, namely, the fact that the
coefficient of cubic thermal expansion of mercury is different from the coefficient of linear
thermal expansion of the scale. Thus, a certain correction term is required for both types of
mercury barometer.
A fixed-cistern barometer requires an additional correction. The reason for this is that an increase
in temperature of the instrument causes an increase both in the volume of the mercury and in the
cross-sectional areas of the (iron) cistern and the (glass) tube. Owing to these area changes, the
apparent rise of the mercury resulting from a temperature increase is less than would be the case if
the areas remained constant. This is because some of the mercury from the barometer goes to occupy
the capacity increment produced by the expansion of the cistern and tube.
The scale of a fixed-cistern barometer must, for a variety of reasons, undergo a calibration check
against a primary standard barometer of the adjustable-cistern type. Some manufacturers decrease the
volume of mercury by such an amount that the readings of the test barometer agree with the readings
of the standard barometer at 20 C. Correction tables can be generated for fixed-cistern barometers
using the readings from a primary standard barometer whose scales are accurate when 20 C is used as
the reference temperature.
Researchers have conducted exhaustive studies for temperature corrections for mercury barometers, the
results of which are summarized below:
1.

2.

(a) Scale correct at 0 C and additionally

Ct

= B ( ) t

(b) Hg volume correct at 0 C

Ct,V

= B ( ) t ( 3) 4V/3A

Ct,V

= B ( ) t ( 3) (t 20)

Scale correct at 0 C and

Hg volume correct at 20 C

4V/3A

3.

(a) Scale correct at 20 C

Ct

= B [ t (t 20)]

(b) Hg volume correct at 0 C

Ct,V

= B t (t 20)] ( 3) t

Ct,V

= B ( ) t ( 3) t (4V/3A)

Ct,V

= B t (t 20)] ( 3) (t 20)

Ct,V

= B ( ) t ( 3) (t 20)

(4V/3A)
(c) Hg volume decreasing by an amount
equivalent to 0.36 hPa
4.

Scale correct at 20 C and

(a) Hg volume correct at 20 C

(4V/3A)
(b) Hg volume decreasing by an amount
equivalent to 0.36 hPa
(4V/3A)
where:
Ct

Ct,V =

temperature correction;
additional correction for fixed-cistern barometers;

observed barometer reading;

total volume of mercury in the fixed-cistern barometer;

effective cross-sectional area of the cistern;

temperature;

cubic thermal expansion of mercury;

coefficient of linear thermal expansion of the scale;

coefficient of linear thermal expansion of the cistern.

ANNEX 3.B
REGIONAL STANDARD BAROMETERS
WMO Region

Location

Categorya

Cairo, Egypt

Ar

Casablanca, Morocco

Ar

Dakar, Senegal

Ar

Douala, Cameroon

Ar

Kinshasa/Binza, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ar

Nairobi, Kenya

Ar

Oran, Algeria

Ar

II

III

IV

VI

Calcutta, India

Br

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Br

Maracay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

Br

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Ar

Miami, Florida, United States (subregional)

Ar

San Juan, Puerto Rico (subregional)

Ar

Toronto, Canada (subregional)

Ar

Washington DC (Gaithersburg, Maryland), United States

Ar

Melbourne, Australia

Ar

London, United Kingdom

Ar

St Petersburg, Russian Federation

Ar

Toulouserappes, France

Ar

Hamburg, Germany

Ar

For category definitions, see section 3.10.5.1.

REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING

Liu, H. and G. Darkow, 1989: Wind effect on measured atmospheric pressure. Journal of Atmospheric
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