The Whitworth Observatory in Manchester. Presentation slides from the meeting held in Manchester on 7th December 2010.

1. North West Local Centre www.tinyurl.com/nwrmets

3. Weather News

5. Reopening of the Whitworth Meteorological Observatory

7. Sir Joseph Whitworth 1803 – 1887 Mechanical Engineer

8. Sir Arthur Schuster (1851-1934)

15. The New Whitworth Observatory Michael Flynn

17. Location Map

18. Location

20. Measurements Made Parameter Range Resolution Accuracy Rate Wind Speed 0-65m/s 0.01m/s 1.5%@12m/s 20Hz Wind Direction 0-359deg 0.1deg 2%@12m/s 20Hz Temperature -40 - +60C 0.1C 0.1C 1Hz Relative Humidity 0-100%RH 0.1% 1.5% 1Hz Barometric Pressure 500-1100hPa 0.01hPa 0.3hPa 1Hz Direct and Diffuse Solar Radiation (310-2800nm) 0-1600 W/m2 2% 5s Longwave Radiation (4.5-42um) -400 – 100 W/m2 5% 18s Meteorological Visibility 10m – 75Km 2% 60s Precipitation Type drizzle (also freezing), rain (also freezing), hail, snow, snow grains / ice needles, soft hail / ice grains 60s Precipitation Rate 0.005 – 250mm/hr 0.001mm/hr <10% 60s Precipitation size distribution 0.16 – 8mm 22 bins 60s Precipitation velocity distribution 0.2 – 20m/s 20 bins 60s Cloud Height 10 – 8200m 3m 7.5m 60s

21. Instruments Used

22. Sonic Anemometer

24. Laser Distrometer

26. Precipitation Recognition Matrix Particle Fall Speed Particle Diameter

27. Figures from “INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE IMPROVEMENT OF AUTOMATED PRECIPITATION TYPE OBSERVATIONS AT KNMI” by Marijn de Haij and Wiel Wauben 2010. Laser Distrometer – Precipitation Type Rain Snow Particle Fall Speed Particle Fall Speed Particle Diameter Particle Diameter

29. Light Transmission and Extinction Scattering Absorption Extinction = Scattering + Absorption Meteorological Optical Range = 3.00/Extinction Coefficient

30. Visibility and Meteorological Optical Range Meteorological Optical Range The path length in the atmosphere required to reduce the luminous flux in a collimated beam from an incandescent lamp at a colour temperature of 2700  K to 0.05 of its original value. Where β is the extinction coefficient Daytime Visual Range The limiting distance at which a black target is visible against the horizon sky. Koschmieder’s Law (1924) Where β is the extinction coefficient Night-time Visual Range The distance at which an observer can see lights through the atmosphere at night. Allard’s Law (1876) Where E t is the observers illuminance threshold and β is the extinction coefficient

31. Present Weather Sensor - Schematic

34. Ceilometer

35. Ceilometer Data

39. Yesterday - 6 th Dec © University of Manchester Relative Humidity Temperature Dew Point Temp. Solar Radiation Terrestrial Radiation Visibility

40. Yesterday - 6 th Dec © University of Manchester Relative Humidity Temperature Dew Point Temp. Solar Radiation Terrestrial Radiation Visibility

41. Yesterday - 6 th Dec © University of Manchester Relative Humidity Temperature Dew Point Temp. Solar Radiation Terrestrial Radiation Visibility

42. Yesterday - 6 th Dec © University of Manchester Relative Humidity Temperature Dew Point Temp. Solar Radiation Terrestrial Radiation Visibility

43. Yesterday - 6 th Dec © University of Manchester Relative Humidity Temperature Dew Point Temp. Solar Radiation Terrestrial Radiation Visibility

44. Yesterday - 6 th Dec © University of Manchester Relative Humidity Temperature Dew Point Temp. Solar Radiation Terrestrial Radiation Visibility

45. Yesterday - 6 th Dec © University of Manchester Ceilometer

46. © NERC Satellite Receiving Station / University of Dundee © NERC Satellite Receiving Station / University of Dundee Yesterday 2:53am infra-red

47. © NERC Satellite Receiving Station / University of Dundee Yesterday 8:54am infra-red

48. © NERC Satellite Receiving Station / University of Dundee Yesterday 12:47pm infra-red

49. © NERC Satellite Receiving Station / University of Dundee Yesterday 12:47pm visible

50. © NERC Satellite Receiving Station / University of Dundee Yesterday 6:48pm infra-red

51. © NERC Satellite Receiving Station / University of Dundee Today 12:27pm infra-red

53. http://thebarometer.podbean.com