What is a Barometer? 

Barometers are used by scientists, fishermen, boaters and other weather watchers to monitor changes in atmospheric pressure or the “weight” of the air. Typically a change in air pressure signals that the weather is about to change: Rising pressure signals improving conditions, while a drop in pressure indicates poor weather is on the way. A passing storm for instance often brings rapidly falling pressure.

Where Should You Keep Your Barometer?

Generally, a barometer performs best when it’s mounted indoors away from the elements, in a place experiencing the same air pressure as the outdoors.

How Does a Barometer Work?

Barometers measure atmospheric pressure without mercury or other fluids. Instead, barometers use a sealed metal chamber that expands and contracts depending on atmospheric pressure surrounding it. A change in pressure causes the dial’s indicator hand to move.

Barometers can measure pressure in inches, millibars or centimeters. At sea level, normal atmospheric pressure is approximately 29.92 inches, which translates to 1014 millibars or 76 centimeters. Higher elevations experience less pressure due to decreased pressure overhead.

Aneroid barometers have a circular display face much like a clock, which indicates the current atmospheric pressure: The indicator hand moves both clockwise and counterclockwise to point to the current pressure. Sometimes descriptors like “stormy,” “rain,” “change,” “fair,” and “dry” are marked above the numbers on the dial to make it easier to interpret.

How to Set a Barometer

Atmospheric pressure decreases as altitude increases, if you live in a higher altitude you’ll need to adjust your barometer to get an accurate reading. To do this, call your local weather bureau and ask for the current barometer reading. Then adjust the barometer’s indicator hand (the long one) to match the current reading. However, if you live at an altitude of 5,000 feet or higher, your barometer should be adjusted by a professional.

Pro Tip

Before taking a reading, gently tap the face of the barometer to release any built-up frictional resistance on the indicator dial.