Meteorological Measurements and Instrumentation

This book describes the fundamental scientific principles underlying high quality instrumentation used for environmental measurements. It discusses a wide range of in situ sensors employed in practical environmental monitoring and, in particular, those used in surface based measurement systems. It also considers the use of weather balloons to provide a wealth of upper atmosphere data. To illustrate the technologies in use it includes many examples of real atmospheric measurements in typical and unusual circumstances, with a discussion of the electronic signal conditioning, data acquisition considerations and data processing principles necessary for reliable measurements. This also allows the long history of atmospheric measurements to be placed in the context of the requirements of modern climate science, by building the physical science appreciation of the instrumental record and looking forward to new and emerging sensor and recording technologies.

This book describes the fundamental scientific principlesunderlying high quality instrumentation used for environmentalmeasurements. It discusses a wide range of in situ sensors employedin practical environmental monitoring and, in particular, thoseused in surface based measurement systems. It also considers theuse of weather balloons to provide a wealth of upper atmospheredata. To illustrate the technologies in use it includes manyexamples of real atmospheric measurements in typical and unusualcircumstances, with a discussion of the electronic signalconditioning, data acquisition considerations and dataprocessing principles necessary for reliable measurements. Thisalso allows the long history of atmospheric measurements to beplaced in the context of the requirements of modern climatescience, by building the physical science appreciation of theinstrumental record and looking forward to new and emerging sensorand recording technologies.