Why Weather Forecasters Rely on Our Precision Humidity & Temperature Probes

Delivering the Ultimate in Weather Data Accuracy & Reliability

For most of us, observing the daily weather usually consists of looking out the window when we get up, or tuning in to the local weather forecast. Weather conditions are normally of passing interest. But for farmers, construction and transport workers, airlines, offshore operators and many industrial companies, the state of the weather – and what it will do in the coming days and weeks – can be crucial to their work.

Historically, weather patterns have generally been relatively predictable. However, with the effects of climate change becoming ever-more prominent, the global processes that drive our weather patterns are being increasingly disrupted, leading to greater atmospheric instability and extreme weather events that potentially affect every one of us.

Climate change and extreme weather

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in America reports that, each year, the United States ‘averages some 10,000 thunderstorms, 5,000 floods, 1,300 tornadoes and 2 Atlantic hurricanes, as well as widespread droughts and wildfires’. These types of extreme weather events account for over 650 deaths and USD 15 billion in damage per year, with an estimated USD 3 trillion (around one third of the value of the US economy) being affected by changing weather and climatic conditions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that, globally, 3.6 billion people already live in areas that are radically affected by climate change, through droughts, floods, wildfires, hurricanes and tropical storms. The WHO also anticipates that, by 2030, the growing impact of climate change will lead to at least 250,000 additional deaths per year, with a cost to healthcare systems of up to USD 4 billion.

Accurate weather forecasting

All this makes the need for accurate short- and long-term weather forecasting increasingly important if we are to protect lives, safeguard infrastructure and minimize the impact on economic growth as we work to meet net zero targets. These criteria are a key remit of weather monitoring and forecast agencies. One of the goals of the NOAA, for example, is to ‘advance our ability to predict and respond to changes in climate and other environmental challenges that imperil Earth’s natural resources, human life and economic vitality’.

At the heart of agencies such as the NOAA, the Met Office in the UK, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and the Chinese Metrological Administration, are strategies for measuring and understanding a plethora of meteorological variables. Of these, humidity and temperature stand out as fundamental components, as they are essential to the effectiveness and accuracy of weather forecasts.

Humidity refers to the concentration of water vapor present in the air. It is typically expressed as relative humidity, which measures the current amount of water vapor (gas) in the air compared to the maximum amount the air can hold at that temperature and pressure. The atmosphere's temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of air molecules: as temperatures increase, more water vapor can be supported. Humidity and temperature are interrelated and significantly influence weather conditions, especially air pressure, wind patterns, cloud formation and precipitation, as well as being key inputs for long-term forecast modelling.

Measuring temperature and humidity

Temperature and humidity measurements are generally taken using precision instruments installed in ground-based weather stations, weather balloons and satellites. The key throughout is the ability of each instrument to provide accurate, consistent and repeatable measurements, often under extreme conditions in isolated locations, while being compact, lightweight and easy to maintain.

This is where our range of HC2A-S3 , MP100A and MP400A meteorological probes come in. They are widely used by meteorological agencies around the world and are recognized as being the most robust, stable and accurate available at commercially viable price points.

The MP100A probe, for example, is designed for use in remote locations. It is powered by a DC source, with energization of the probe lasting just 0.25 seconds for each measurement. Similarly, the HC2A-S3 humidity and temperature probe is a high-end device, featuring a specially developed sensor that combines excellent long-term stability, of less than 1 %rh/year, with precision measurement better than 0.8 %rh and 0.1 °C. Intelligent electronics allow probes to be hot-swappable, while standard analog and digital outputs enable connection to all common data collection and analysis systems.

All of our meteorology probes are available with a choice of naturally or actively ventilated weather shields to ensure consistent measurements and are backed by our worldwide customer support and instrument calibration services.

With nearly 60 years’ experience in developing innovative precision instruments, Rotronic is an application expert in humidity measurements for extreme meteorological conditions. The firm’s development process is rigorous, incorporating extensive field testing and further analysis in its state-of-the-art climate chambers. This ensures sensor performance is proven in a wide range of real-world environmental conditions. Contact our team today .

Did you know?

Humidity is often defined in one of two ways by climate scientists and meteorologists:

• Specific humidity: the volume of water vapor relative to the total mass of water vapor and air combined, measured in grams of water vapor per kilogram of moist air.
• Relative humidity: the volume of water vapor that air contains compared to the maximum that it could contain, expressed as a percentage.

An article published in Earth Systems Science Data explains that humidity measurements around the world show that, since 1981, specific humidity has increased, while relative humidity over many regions has fallen. In other words, there is more water vapor in the atmosphere, yet in some areas, the level of atmospheric water saturation is lower.

This leads to paradoxical effects. High levels of water vapor lead to greater precipitation and tropical storms and cause heat stress in humans. Yet, decreasing water vapor saturation adversely affects the growth of plants and agricultural crops, while also increasing the risk of wildfires.

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External Links

Earth Systems Science Data
World Health Organization
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration