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Meteorological station: types, instruments and instruments, observations. Weather station with buckets: how they know the weather in the 21st century How does the weather station service work

METEOROLOGICAL STATION - an institution that conducts regular observations of the state of the atmosphere. Observations include measurements of the values ​​of meteorological elements on time and determination of the main characteristics (beginning, end and intensity) of atmospheric phenomena. The first meteorological stations began to be created as early as the 18th century, when individual scientists or scientific societies began to conduct systematic observations of the weather. In the 19th century after the establishment of central meteorological institutes, in particular the Main Physical Observatory in St. Petersburg (1849), the weather stations received a unified leadership, as well as a common observation program.
The meteorological station includes a meteorological platform, where most of the instruments are installed (a psychrometric booth with thermometers and hygrometers, instruments for measuring wind speed and direction, a precipitation gauge, soil thermometers, etc.), an office building that houses barometers, recording parts of remote instruments, portable instruments and where observations are processed. Observations are carried out according to the standard program for a 10-minute time interval every 3 or 6 hours, and in some cases hourly. The received data is encoded and transmitted in the form of a digital summary to specified addresses (weather bureaus, aviation weather stations, etc.). Many meteorological stations, along with standard ones, conduct agrometeorological observations, determine the intensity of solar radiation (direct, diffuse, and total), the radiation balance, the amount of evaporation of soil moisture, and other meteorological stations are also installed on ships; automatic weather stations - on buoys on the high seas and in uninhabited land areas.
Observation data from weather stations are used to produce weather forecasts and warnings about adverse weather phenomena for the national economy, to study climate and its changes, as well as to directly provide service organizations with weather information.
There are portable (home) weather stations - devices that include a set of weather instruments. As a rule, this is a barometer, hygrometer and thermometer. This combination of equipment makes it possible to conduct a more accurate study of the environment, to predict weather changes in the near future with the least error. You can find such equipment on our website and order it.

What is a weather forecast? The one that we watch as a rest between news about wars, terrorist attacks and disasters.

I'll tell you. The first regular meteorological observations began in our country in Moscow, in 1650, under the father of Peter the Great, Alexei Mikhailovich. My son put meteorology on a broad state footing. Since 1722, Vice-Admiral Kruys in St. Petersburg began to make detailed records of the weather. In 1733, a weather station was opened in Kazan, and in 1734 in Yekaterinburg, Tomsk, Yeniseisk, Irkutsk, Yakutsk, and Nerchinsk.

But this is not our Cossack land. Here, without science and instruments, everyone knows everything. The first weather station in the vicinity of Meotida was opened by the grandson of the legendary Margaret Manuilovich Blazo, scientist and public figure, Nikolai Margaritovich Sarandinaki only in 1874 in his Margaritovka on the shore of the Taganrog Bay.

I came to Margaritovka to understand myself and tell you why I am here?

This is how the station, or rather the meteorological site, looks like today.

Lost in a vast expanse where sea, sky and steppe meet. Where sunsets and sunrises in the sky.

Where people run on the chocolate sea.

Well, in fact, where was the first Don weather station to appear, no matter how here. Why do you, city dwellers living on asphalt and under air conditioners, need a weather forecast? And here, on the banks of Meotida, the forecast is a matter of life. See what the wind is doing - the top in these parts. Margaret cows have trodden a long path to the water that has gone hundreds of meters away. And what the wind does - low, it would be better not to see.

In these parts without a forecast it is impossible

And the meteorological site is located almost at the clay cliff, on the shore, open to all winds, both sea and steppe. And he seems to be listening...

In the local school museum, which is better than many of the district ones (a story about it later), there is a stand dedicated to the history of the weather station.

An honorary certificate certifies that meteorological observations really began here in 1874.

Initially, the weather station was located in the Sarandinaki mansion, which has been happily preserved to this day.

Later, this house was built, now in disrepair and abandoned.

Not so long ago, it was replaced by a standard modular unit.

Pleasant station worker Svetlana hospitably invited me inside. I got excited, now I will see how forecasts are born, and not just anywhere, but in the kingdom of the weather god, on the Meotian coast.

The workplace of the meteorologist was delightful. It turns out that he does not need now in a sheepskin coat and felt boots to make his way to the instruments brought in by snowdrifts. Information from the weather site is transmitted directly to the computer screen. But neatly lined magazine is present.

And this rotating stand, covered with neat signs! I'm sure if I understood their meaning down to the last badge, I would be able to predict the weather a hundred years ahead with incredible accuracy.

Work environment and secret symbols.

The station has its own relic - a pre-war barometer (if I'm not mistaken).

And I will definitely learn this yellowed table, the letters on which are drawn through a stencil, and I will surprise my satellites by distinguishing between cumulonimbus clouds of vertical development and cirrostratus clouds of the upper tier.

The warm, neat atmosphere of the station impressed me pleasantly.

Bow to the memory of Nikolai Margaritovich

and we recall that the second weather station in our region was opened by him, in the building of the Petrovsky real school on Bolshaya Sadovaya, 12 years after Margaritovskaya, in 1886.

A meteorological station is a special institution created for continuous monitoring of the state of the atmosphere and the processes occurring in the atmosphere.

These measurements are made using special meteorological instruments that are able to determine:

  • the level of solar radiation;
  • air temperature;
  • humidity of air and soil;
  • atmospheric pressure;
  • wind direction and speed;
  • the amount of precipitation;
  • snow cover level;
  • cloudiness;
  • other data.

The weather station includes a special platform where weather instruments are installed, as well as a room in which automatic devices are installed that record ongoing processes and where the data obtained during the observation process is processed.

How does the weather station service work?

Each of the modern states creates subordinate meteorological services, which include meteorological institutions and a network of specially created stations.

Their task includes:

  • conducting scientific research occurring in the atmosphere of phenomena for their practical use in the national economy;
  • obtaining data related to climatic conditions%
  • weather information and forecasts.

Recording of all data coming from meteorological instruments (from thermograph, psychometer, hygrograph, barograph) takes place continuously and is taken every 180 minutes.

In the same way, information is collected all over the world. After that, she goes to the main center. On the territory of the Russian Federation, information flows to the Meteorological Bureau of Moscow and the Moscow Region. After that, all data is processed and entered into a computer. At the last stage, daily forecast weather maps are created. Surface and high-altitude data are used to calculate the occurring atmospheric fronts. The resulting data from all regions go to the Hydrometeorological Center of the Russian Federation, where they are processed. With the help of satellite data, information is transmitted to the World Meteorological Organization, which includes 185 countries.

The existing capacities in Russia for the work of meteorologists are no longer enough. In this regard, the Hydrometeorological Center takes part in the auction for the purchase of a more powerful PC.

Types of meteorological stations

There are three categories of meteorological stations.

Rank 1

Stations for monitoring, processing the received data and managing the work.

Rank 2

The station, with the help of which organizations and enterprises receive the necessary data on weather conditions and climate. It is capable of observing, processing and transmitting data.

Rank 3

It is intended for carrying out observation according to the reduced program.

Depending on the nature of the work performed, the following types of stations are used:

  • meteorological;
  • household;
  • hydrological;
  • agrometeorological;
  • forest;
  • marsh;
  • aviation meteorological;
  • lake.

Distant meteorological stations of Russia

Meteorological stations are often located in areas remote from cities, where it is possible to conduct observations of the atmosphere and weather phenomena as accurately as possible. Often, employees go to such places on long business trips for a whole season, working and living in an almost deserted area tens and hundreds of kilometers from the nearest settlements.

Currently, there are quite remote weather stations in Russia, which are located in the Republic of Buryatia, the Irkutsk region, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok, on the territory of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug

Without a weather station it is impossible to develop the Arctic. On the territory of the farthest point of Russia in the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, an autonomous meteorological station has been installed, which can only be reached by helicopter. Its main task is to study ice and hydrometeorological conditions in the waters of the East Siberian and Kara Seas, as well as the Laptev Sea.

Everything depends on the weather. The first thing most services do when they get started is to ask for a weather forecast. The life of our planet, individual state, city, companies, enterprises and every person depends on the weather. Moving, flights, work of transport and communal services, agriculture and everything in our life is directly dependent on weather conditions. A high-quality weather forecast cannot be made without readings collected by a meteorological station.

What is a meteorological station?

It is difficult to imagine a modern state without a special meteorological service, which includes a network of meteorological stations that conduct observations, on the basis of which a short-term or long-term weather forecast is made. In almost all parts of the world there are meteorological stations that conduct observations and collect data used in meteorological forecasts.

A weather station is an institution that performs certain measurements of atmospheric phenomena and processes. To be measured:

  • weather properties such as temperature, humidity, pressure, wind, cloudiness, precipitation;
  • weather phenomena such as snowfall, thunderstorm, rainbow, calm, fog and others.

In Russia, as in other countries, there is an extensive network of meteorological stations and posts distributed throughout the country. Certain observations are made by observatories. Any meteorological station must have a special platform where instruments and instruments for measurements are installed, as well as a special room for recording and processing readings.

Instruments for meteorological measurements

All measurements are taken daily and at the same time meteorological ones are used. What functions do they perform? First of all, the following instruments are used at meteorological stations:

  1. For well-known thermometers are used. They are of several types: to determine the air temperature and soil temperature.
  2. A barometer is required to measure atmospheric pressure.
  3. An important indicator is the humidity with a hygrometer. The simplest meteorological station monitors air humidity.
  4. To measure the direction and speed of the wind, an anemorumbometer is needed, in other words, a weather vane.
  5. The amount of precipitation is measured by a rain gauge.

Instruments used at weather stations

Some measurements need to be taken continuously. To do this, use the instrument readings. All of them are recorded and entered in special journals, after which the information is submitted to Roshydromet.

  • A thermograph is used to continuously record the air temperature.
  • With continuous joint recording of temperature and humidity readings, a psychrometer is used.
  • Humidity is continuously recorded by a hygrometer.
  • Barometric changes and readings are recorded by a barograph.

There are also a number of instruments that measure specific indicators such as cloud base, evaporation rate, sunshine rate, and more.

Types of weather stations

The main number of meteorological stations belongs to Roshydromet. But there are a number of departments whose activities are directly dependent on the weather. These are maritime, aviation, agricultural and other departments. As a rule, they have their own meteorological stations.

Weather stations in Russia are divided into three categories. The third category has stations whose work is carried out according to an abbreviated program. The station of the second category collects, processes and transmits data. Stations of the first category, in addition to all of the above, have the function of managing work.

Where are the weather stations located?

Weather stations are located throughout Russia. As a rule, they are located at a distance from large cities in desert, mountainous, forest areas, where the distance from the meteorological station to settlements is large.

If the area is remote and deserted, then the station workers go there on long business trips for the whole season. It is difficult to work here, as it is, for the most part, the north of Russia, rugged mountains, deserts, the Far East. Living conditions are not always suitable for family living. Therefore, workers have to live away from people for many months. According to the location of the weather station, there are: hydrological, aerometeorological, forest, lake, swamp, transport and others. Let's consider some of them.

Forest

For the most part, forest weather stations are designed to prevent forest fires. Located in the forest, they collect not only traditional observations about the weather, but these meteorological stations also monitor the moisture content of trees and soil, the temperature component at various levels of forests. All data is processed, and a special map is modeled showing the most fire hazardous areas.

Hydrological

Observations of the weather in various parts of the Earth's water surface (seas, oceans, rivers, lakes) are carried out by hydrological weather stations. They can be located on the mainland coast of the sea and ocean, the ship, which is a floating station. In addition, they are located on the banks of rivers, lakes, and swamps. The indications of these weather stations are extremely important, since in addition to the weather forecast for sailors, they allow you to make long-term weather forecasts for the area.

The first "code" of extreme weather events in Russia was collected back in the 16th century by decree of Ivan IV the Terrible, these data were included in the Illuminated Chronicle Code. And already in the middle of the 17th century, by decree of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, they began to observe the weather daily in different parts of the state. Volunteer observers helped to compile the first climatic features of the regions. At the beginning of the 19th century, the talented Russian scientist Adolf Kupfer set about creating a service for regular hydrometeorological observations, and in the middle of the century the Main Physical Observatory was created. From that time on, meteorological and magnetic observations began to be carried out on a regular basis, new meteorological instruments and systems for their verification began to be created.

How is the weather measured in Russia today? We have collected the most interesting data on the modern forecasting process using the capital region as an example.

reference station

Moscow receives basic data from 6 weather stations. Of these, the oldest and, at the moment, the reference (or reference) station is the All-Russian Exhibition Center. The data obtained from it are official for the publication of actual weather and temperature records. It was opened on August 1, 1939 and worked until July 1940, then it was moved to a shaded place, they began to modernize .... but didn't make it. It was opened after the war, in 1949, already as an agrometeorological station. Since then, she has been working.

Outwardly, it is a platform with white (this color does not attract the sun's rays) appliances and cabinets, which at first glance seem very strange. However, any meteorological site in the world looks similar.

Main instruments of the station

A mandatory instrument of the weather station is a thermometer. There are several of them at the All-Russian Exhibition Center: some are stuck directly into the soil at different depths, others are placed above the ground in the so-called psychometric booth. One of the "booth" thermometers is constantly in distilled water, this allows you to determine the humidity of the air. By the way, a device that measures air humidity is also called a hygrometer, and it was invented by Horace Benedict de Saussure, a Swiss naturalist, while climbing Mont Blanc in the 19th century.

A mandatory device for any weather site is also a barometer. There are usually several weather vanes that measure the speed and direction of the wind, some are raised to a height of about three meters, others are located a meter from the ground.

At a height of two meters, on a special pillar, there is a precipitation gauge. This is how precipitation is measured that falls on the heads of passers-by, and not at all by the depth of puddles or the thickness of snow on the sidewalk, as some people think. The modern configuration of the device was invented by the Russian scientist V.D. Tretyakov. The device consists of a bucket and a special protective skirt resembling a half-blown chamomile. A staircase leads to them from the ground, so that it would be more convenient for the meteorologist to take measurements.

There is also an ice machine on the meteorological site, which from a distance is easy to mistake for a fragile version of the “hand-walker” sports equipment. The device heliograph, outwardly resembling a transparent globe, measures the frequency of sunshine. There are also tools for measuring the height and density of clouds. All data received from these devices is recorded in a continuous mode: thermograph, hygrograph, psychometer, barograph.

Data processing

Once every three hours, simultaneously all over the world, meteorologists get up from their chairs and go to the weather site to take data from instruments. Then, the data is processed and sent in the form of telephone messages to the head centers. In the capital of Russia, such a center is the Meteorological Bureau of Moscow and the region, where all information flows, both from weather stations and from weather posts, autonomous weather sensors and other devices. Such devices are located throughout the metropolitan area on the roofs of buildings, highways and lighting poles. The total number of these devices in the Moscow region alone reaches several thousand.

The received information is processed by Met Office weather forecasters with the help of computer programs and turned into maps: prognostic maps for the day ahead, as well as surface and high-altitude ones, to calculate the coming atmospheric fronts. Further, the forecasts are sent to the Hydrometeorological Center of Russia, where they process data from all meteorological posts and stations in the country. Then, the processed information goes to colleagues from the World Meteorological Organization (it unites 185 countries), and back our specialists receive data on their measurements. In addition, data are collected from satellites, in particular, on fluctuations in the temperature of the surface water layer in the equatorial part of the Pacific Ocean El Niño, which has a noticeable effect on the climate as a whole.

Forecast for the layman

Digests this global information into forecasts that are generally accessible to humans, for example - “cloudy and temperatures near zero”, a meteorological supercomputer. In Russia, its latest version was delivered in 2009 at the Russian Hydrometeorological Center. This mechanism represents spacious rooms - servers. The total power of the supercomputer is now 30 teraflops (trillions of operations per second). But, as meteorologists recently admitted, these capacities are no longer enough to digest the information received.

Therefore, at the end of 2014, the Hydrometeorological Center of the Russian Federation will announce tenders for the purchase of a more powerful unit. With its installation, the quality of forecasts will certainly increase. This means that the “puzzles” that these machines put together will be more accurate not only for the coming day, but also for the week ahead (now the accuracy of the weekly forecast does not exceed 70 percent), and maybe for six months.

However, as noted by the honorary president of the World Meteorological Organization Alexander Bedritsky, the most accurate forecast will be when a weather station is attached to each molecule. Whether this will succeed in the future and whether such accuracy is necessary for a person - time will tell.