You can find out what the weather will be like if you visit Met Éireann but you can make your own forecasts by recording air pressure. When air pressure is low there can be bad weather and when air pressure is high there can be good weather.
Air pressure is recorded using a barometer and here is how you can make you own!
1. You need a straw, a bottle and a stopper (a cork with a hole in it is the best)
2. Half fill the bottle with water and put the straw into the water, but avoid touching the bottom.
3. Get the level of water in the straw above the level of the top of the bottle.
4. Blow through the straw, fill the straw with water and cover the top end with your finger. You can then control how much water you release into the bottle.
5. Seal the neck of the bottle.
6. The level of water in the straw should rise if the air pressure goes up and fall if the pressure goes down .You can use a ruler to measure the rise and fall of the water in the straw if you like.
Note: Make sure to use a glass bottle, as a plastic one is affected by air pressure too, just like water.
Barometer
To make your own barometer you will need a bottle, stopper and straw. Partly fill the bottle with water and measure the water level in the straw with a ruler. If air pressure is high the water will be lower in the straw. When air pressure is lower the water will be higher in the straw.
(c) CrannBarometer
(c) Crann
(c) Crann
Barometer
To make your own barometer you will need a bottle, stopper and straw. Partly fill the bottle with water and measure the water level in the straw with a ruler. If air pressure is high the water will be lower in the straw. When air pressure is lower the water will be higher in the straw.
(c) CrannSource: Crann Magazine www.crann.ie