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Quizzes > Science > Earth & Space Science

All Weather Instruments Quiz - Test Your Knowledge!

Ready to explore types of weather instruments? Start the quiz!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for weather instruments quiz on a sky blue background

Use this quiz to check what you know about weather instruments and how they work. Have fun while you spot gaps before science class, and if you want a refresher first, read our short guide to weather tools or try a quick warm-up quiz .

What instrument measures atmospheric pressure?
Anemometer
Barometer
Thermometer
Hygrometer
The barometer measures atmospheric pressure by balancing the weight of air against a column of liquid or an aneroid cell, producing readings used for weather forecasting. It reports values in units such as millibars or inches of mercury which reflect pressure variations. Aneroid barometers use a sealed chamber instead of liquid, making them more portable.
Which instrument is used to measure wind speed?
Rain gauge
Anemometer
Barometer
Hygrometer
An anemometer measures wind speed by capturing airflow on cups or propellers, rotating at a rate proportional to wind velocity. It's one of the most common tools in meteorology stations and research. Modern versions can be ultrasonic or laser-based for precise measurements.
Which instrument measures relative humidity?
Rain gauge
Anemometer
Hygrometer
Thermometer
A hygrometer measures moisture content in the air, reporting values as relative humidity percentages. Common types include capacitive, resistive, and hair tension hygrometers. Psychrometers also determine humidity but rely on wet and dry bulb temperatures.
Which instrument measures the amount of rainfall over a period of time?
Anemometer
Rain gauge
Thermometer
Barometer
A rain gauge collects precipitation in a graduated cylinder or tipping bucket mechanism and measures the accumulated depth of rainfall over time. Meteorologists use recorded rainfall amounts to monitor and forecast flood risks. Automated gauges can transmit data in real time.
Which instrument is used to measure air temperature?
Anemometer
Barometer
Thermometer
Hygrometer
A thermometer measures air temperature by detecting the expansion or contraction of liquids or bi-metallic strips, or by converting electrical resistance changes in sensors. Readings are given in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit. Thermometers are fundamental to all weather monitoring.
Which instrument indicates the direction from which the wind is blowing?
Anemometer
Barometer
Wind vane
Hygrometer
A wind vane, also called a weather vane, has an asymmetrical design that aligns itself with the wind, pointing toward the source of the wind. It's usually mounted on rooftops or meteorological masts. Combined with an anemometer it provides full wind characterization.
Which instrument measures solar radiation intensity?
Pyranometer
Hygrometer
Anemometer
Ceilometer
A pyranometer measures global solar radiation on a horizontal surface by detecting the heating effect on a thermopile sensor. It reports values in watts per square meter. Pyranometers are essential for solar energy and climate research.
What instrument is commonly used to determine cloud base height by sending a beam of light upward?
Anemometer
Radar
Ceilometer
Thermometer
A ceilometer emits a laser or infrared beam skyward and measures the time it takes for backscattered light from cloud bases to return. This time-of-flight measurement is converted into cloud height. Ceilometers are standard at airports and weather stations.
Which instrument is specifically used to measure snow accumulation on the ground?
Barometer
Rain gauge
Snow gauge
Hygrometer
A snow gauge collects fallen snow in a large receiver, allowing meteorologists to measure snow depth or water equivalent after melting. It's often equipped with antifreeze to facilitate measurement. Snow gauges help monitor winter precipitation.
Which instrument measures dew point temperature using wet and dry bulb measurements?
Psychrometer
Anemometer
Barometer
Hygrometer
A psychrometer has two thermometers - one with a wet bulb and one dry - that, when ventilated, yield temperatures whose difference relates to dew point. Evaporation lowers the wet bulb reading, enabling calculation of relative humidity and dew point. It's a simple yet accurate field instrument.
In a traditional mercury barometer, a change in atmospheric pressure is indicated by what physical change?
Rotation of a needle
Color change in mercury
Electrical resistance shift
Height of the mercury column
Mercury barometers use a column of mercury in a glass tube. As atmospheric pressure rises or falls, it pushes on the reservoir, changing the height of the mercury column. This height difference correlates directly with pressure variations.
What type of technology do ultrasonic anemometers use to measure wind speed?
Laser Doppler shift
Sound wave transit time differences
Mercury column tilt
Rotating cups
Ultrasonic anemometers send ultrasonic pulses between transducers and analyze the time differences caused by wind. The change in transit time between sound waves is directly related to airflow velocity, providing precise, maintenance-free measurements. These devices are common in research and aviation meteorology.
What are the two main components of a sling psychrometer?
Rain gauge and thermometer
Anemometer and wind vane
Hygrometer and barometer
Wet bulb and dry bulb thermometers
A sling psychrometer consists of two identical thermometers, one covered with a wet cloth (wet bulb) and one dry (dry bulb). By swinging the instrument through the air, the evaporation rate from the wet bulb lowers its temperature, and the difference between readings determines relative humidity. This simple device is widely used in fieldwork.
A tipping bucket is a component in which type of precipitation measurement instrument?
Barometer
Snow gauge
Hygrometer
Rain gauge
The tipping bucket rain gauge uses a funnel to collect rain into a small bucket that tips after a certain volume, sending an electrical signal for each tip. The recorded number of tips corresponds to accumulated rainfall. This design allows for automated and real-time rain data logging.
Which instrument measures humidity based on changes in electrical capacitance?
Mercury barometer
Psychrometer
Capacitive hygrometer
Tipping bucket gauge
A capacitive hygrometer measures relative humidity by detecting changes in the dielectric constant of a polymer or metal oxide layer as moisture content varies. These changes alter the capacitance between electrodes, which is converted into humidity readings. They are common in modern digital weather stations.
Ceilometers typically use which technology to measure cloud base height?
Solar radiation
Sound waves
Mercury column
Laser or lidar pulses
Most modern ceilometers emit laser or lidar pulses upward into the atmosphere, measuring the time taken for light to scatter back from cloud bases. This time-of-flight calculation provides precise cloud height data. Older models used spinning mirrors and IR beams, but lasers are now standard.
Which instrument specifically measures ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun?
Pyranometer
UV radiometer
Anemometer
Barometer
UV radiometers are designed with sensors that are sensitive to ultraviolet wavelengths, typically in the UV-A and UV-B bands. They provide measurements used for public health advisories and climate studies. Pyranometers measure total solar radiation but do not isolate UV.
What does a Campbell - Stokes sunshine recorder measure?
Hours of bright sunshine
Rainfall intensity
Wind speed
Atmospheric pressure
The Campbell - Stokes recorder uses a glass sphere to focus sunlight onto a calibrated card, burning a trace that indicates periods of bright sunshine. The length of burn marks corresponds to sunshine duration. It's a classic instrument still used at many weather stations.
Which instrument is used to measure the snow water equivalent (SWE) on the ground?
Snow gauge
Thermistor
Hygrometer
Snow pillow
A snow pillow is a large, fluid-filled bladder placed under the snowpack; as snow accumulates, it applies pressure on the pillow, which is measured to calculate snow water equivalent. SWE indicates the amount of water contained within the snowpack. This measurement is critical for hydrology and water resource management.
Which instrument measures evaporation rate from a water surface?
Barometer
Anemometer
Rain gauge
Evaporimeter or lysimeter
An evaporimeter or lysimeter measures evaporation by tracking the loss of water from a container or soil monolith over time. The weight change corresponds to evaporative losses. These instruments help understand water budgets in agriculture and climatology.
How does Doppler radar measure wind velocity within a storm?
By measuring echo brightness
By detecting frequency shift of returned radar pulses
By counting raindrop impacts
By tracking cloud motion optically
Doppler radar transmits microwave pulses and analyzes the frequency shift (Doppler effect) of returned signals scattered by raindrops or ice particles moving toward or away from the radar. This shift reveals radial velocity of precipitation particles, thus wind velocity. It's fundamental in severe weather and tornado detection.
What is the main function of a thermohygrograph?
To record temperature and humidity continuously on a chart
To measure wind speed
To determine cloud height
To collect precipitation
A thermohygrograph combines a thermometer and a hygrometer attached to a rotating drum that plots temperature and humidity on chart paper over time. It provides continuous records known as hygrothermograms. Such data are valuable for climate monitoring.
Which wind measurement sensor can determine both wind speed and direction simultaneously?
Ultrasonic anemometer
Rain gauge
Barometer
Thermometer
Ultrasonic anemometers use multiple pairs of transducers to measure the velocity components of wind along different axes, allowing them to calculate both speed and direction without moving parts. Their high temporal resolution makes them ideal for research.
Which instrument is used to measure the Earth's atmospheric electric field near the surface?
Pyrometer
Field mill
Disdrometer
Barograph
A field mill measures atmospheric electric fields by periodically exposing and shielding sense electrodes, inducing a current proportional to the field strength. It's essential for studying lightning and fair-weather electric fields.
What meteorological instrument classifies precipitation based on drop size distribution?
Anemometer
Disdrometer
Hygrometer
Rain gauge
A disdrometer measures the size and velocity of individual raindrops or snowflakes as they pass through a sensing region, providing drop size distribution data. This information helps determine precipitation type and intensity.
An infrared radiation thermometer measures temperature based on which principle?
Reflection of solar radiation
Mercury expansion
Emission of infrared energy proportional to surface temperature
Electrical resistance change
Infrared radiation thermometers detect the thermal radiation emitted by an object's surface and convert it into a temperature reading using Planck's law. They allow non-contact temperature measurements, useful in field and industrial settings.
What is the primary advantage of a siphon-type rain gauge over a tipping bucket gauge?
It records wind speed
It requires no maintenance
It reduces under-measurement during heavy rainfall
It measures humidity
Siphon rain gauges use a design that promptly drains collected water through a siphon after measurement, minimizing overflow during intense rainfall events. Tipping buckets can underestimate precipitation when heavy rain saturates before tipping occurs. Both need maintenance, but siphon designs improve accuracy in heavy storms.
How does a hair tension hygrometer determine relative humidity?
It counts raindrops
It uses sound wave reflection
It detects mercury level shifts
It measures length changes in human or animal hair
Hair hygrometers use strands of treated human or animal hair attached to a mechanical linkage; hair lengthens or shortens with humidity changes, moving a needle over a dial. They were among the earliest instruments for humidity measurement.
What does a microbarograph record?
Atmospheric pressure variations over time
Solar radiation
Soil moisture
Wind gusts
A microbarograph is a highly sensitive barograph that records minute changes in atmospheric pressure on a continuous chart. It is used to detect pressure disturbances like infrasonic signals from storms or explosions.
Which instrument measures the spectral distribution of solar radiation for use in calculating UV index?
UV radiometer
Pyranometer
Anemometer
Spectroradiometer
A spectroradiometer measures the intensity of solar radiation at different wavelengths, including UV-A and UV-B, enabling the calculation of UV index values. This instrument provides detailed spectral data, unlike broadband UV radiometers.
In a visibility transmissometer, what property does the instrument directly measure to determine atmospheric visibility?
Beam attenuation coefficient
Rainfall rate
Temperature gradient
Wind speed
Transmissometers emit a beam of light across a known path and detect the reduction in beam intensity caused by scattering and absorption by particles. The attenuation coefficient is computed from the ratio of received to transmitted light, which correlates directly with visibility range.
Which type of lidar system is commonly used to profile aerosol concentration in the atmosphere?
Disdrometer
Doppler radar
Raman lidar
Psychrometer
Raman lidars emit laser pulses and detect shifted wavelengths (Raman scattering) from atmospheric molecules and aerosols. This technique provides altitude-resolved profiles of aerosol concentration and humidity. It is widely used in atmospheric research.
What atmospheric parameter can be derived from direct solar measurements of a sunphotometer?
Wind direction
Dew point
Aerosol optical depth
Snow water equivalent
Sunphotometers measure the intensity of direct sunlight at multiple wavelengths. By comparing observed and extraterrestrial signal levels, they compute aerosol optical depth, indicating the columnar concentration of aerosols. AOD is key for climate and air quality studies.
How does a chilled mirror hygrometer determine the frost point temperature?
Using hair tension
Observing cloud color
Measuring evaporation rate
By cooling a mirror until condensation or frost forms
A chilled mirror hygrometer precisely controls the temperature of a polished mirror while monitoring when dew or frost first appears, known as the dew or frost point. It directly measures water vapor pressure and provides accurate humidity data. This method is a primary standard for humidity measurement.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify All Key Instruments -

    Pinpoint and name all weather instruments by recognizing each tool's primary purpose and design, ensuring a solid grasp of the full range of all weather instruments.

  2. Differentiate Instrument Categories -

    Classify various types of weather instruments into groups such as temperature, pressure, and wind measurement devices, clarifying how each category contributes to accurate forecasting.

  3. Describe Instrument Functions -

    Explain how weather tools and instruments like barometers, anemometers, and hygrometers work, highlighting the principles behind their measurements.

  4. Recall Weather Instruments Names -

    Memorize and spell key weather instruments names correctly, boosting your confidence when discussing meteorological equipment.

  5. Apply Knowledge in a Quiz Setting -

    Engage with a meteorology tools quiz to test and reinforce your understanding of weather instruments, solidifying your retention through interactive practice.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Atmospheric Pressure Mastery with Barometers -

    Barometers, essential among all weather instruments, measure atmospheric pressure via mercury columns (P = ϝgh) or aneroid cells to forecast high-pressure fair weather versus low-pressure storms (University of Wisconsin - Madison). Use the mnemonic "High Hopes for High Pressure" to remember that rising pressure often means clear skies.

  2. Wind Speed and Direction through Anemometers -

    Anemometers, a key type of weather instrument, gauge wind speed with rotating cups or sonic pulses, converting rotational frequency or sonic delay into wind velocity (NOAA). Remember "Cup Spins, Wind Wins" to link cup anemometer motion directly to wind strength when you study for your meteorology tools quiz.

  3. Humidity Insights via Hygrometers -

    Hygrometers measure moisture in the air using wet-bulb/dry-bulb thermometers or capacitive sensors to calculate relative humidity from temperature differentials (American Meteorological Society). A handy trick is "Dry minus Wet, Humidity You'll Get" to recall how to derive humidity from psychrometer readings.

  4. Precipitation Tracking with Rain Gauges -

    Rain gauges and disdrometers collect and quantify precipitation depth or drop size, providing mm-level accumulation data that calibrate radar and forecasting models (UK Met Office). Use the acronym RAIN - Real-time Accumulation INstrument - to memorize core weather instruments names for liquid precipitation measurement.

  5. Upper-Air Profiling via Radiosondes -

    Radiosondes, launched on weather balloons, carry sensors measuring pressure, temperature, and humidity through the troposphere, delivering vertical profiles vital for global forecasting (NOAA). Visualize "Balloon Up, Data Down" to anchor the concept of upper-air observation in your meteorology tools quiz review.

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