Guide to Meteorological Instruments and Methods of Observation, 2008 edition updated in 2010.[SUPERSEDED]

Abstract

The present, seventh, edition is a fully revised version which includes additional topics and chapters reflecting recent technological developments. Its purpose, as with the previous editions, is to give comprehensive and up-to-date guidance on the most effective practices for carrying out meteorological observations and measurements. This edition was prepared through the collaborative efforts of 42 experts from 17 countries and was adopted by the fourteenth session of CIMO (Geneva, December 2006). The Guide describes most instruments, systems and techniques in regular use, from the simplest to the most complex and sophisticated, but does not attempt to deal with methods and instruments used only for research or experimentally. Furthermore the Guide is not intended to be a detailed instruction manual for use by observers and technicians, but rather, it is intended to provide the basis for the preparation of manuals by National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) or other interested users operating observing systems, to meet their specific needs. However, no attempt is made to specify the fully detailed design of instruments, since to do so might hinder their further development. It was instead considered preferable to restrict standardization to the essential requirements and to confine recommendations to those features which are generally most common to various configurations of a given instrument or measurement system. Although the Guide is written primarily for NMHSs, many other organizations and research and educational institutions taking meteorological observations have found it useful, so their requirements have been kept in mind in the preparation of the Guide. Additionally, many instrument manufacturers have recognized the usefulness of the Guide in the development and production of instruments and systems especially suited to Members’ needs. Because of the considerable demand for this publication, a decision was taken to make it available on the WMO website to all interested users.