Dunbar Barometer - question for the weather nuts

dylanwinter

dylanwinter

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www.keepturningleft.co.uk
lots of the small scottish harbours have their own barometers

the one in Dunbar is also a memorial to the fishermen

I was wondering how specific the predictions are for this part of the coast

here is the barometer

barometer-2-200x300.jpg


here is the top panel - as a link because it is a big image to make it easy to readl

http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/barometer-readings-1S1450046.jpg

and here is the lower one

http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/barometrer-5-S1450046.jpg

so are those entirely normal predictions or have they been taylored for the Firth of Forth
 
The large one in Wick was down for years, but was restored by my mate about 10+ years ago and re-instated on the wall. It is a different design, and much larger than the standard Fitzroy barometer. I always give it a glance before going out. Still works perfectly. Not tall enough to tap the glass though....
 
dylanwinter said:
that was interesting

i wonder if the west coast barometers have different rules on them compared to the east coast ones

D
Click to expand...

Hi Dylan
No
The Barometers will work equaly well east or west of Scotland or the Atlantic. The weather will be wetter on the windward side but the trends generaly the same.

The Barometers will work just as well in the southern hemisphere but the wind directions will be opposite to those of the north.

I can't recall who invented or discovered the Mercury Barometer ( 10 sec on Google) or when. Or who first recorded and noticed the variations in the hight of the Mercury. Your photo shows The Admiral had a good understanding of how Atmospheric even noting the differences between sea level and mountain tops. This was state of the art scientific knowladge for weather prediction of the day.
The predictions are based on the typical changes in presure and the sequence of events an observer will expierience as a typical N Atlantic Depresion Passes over his location. with the center of the low passing north of the observer.
If the low passes South of the observer the wind will shift differently but otherwise much the same.
If the wind Veres to the south you are south of the Low.
If the wind backs to the North you are north of the Low

There are times when a winter high, over Europe results in strong Northerlies brining snow to the N. E Coast the card hepls predict even this when the tempreture is added.

You will see the same on a traditional wall barometer good, fair, change and foul.

As the instructions point out its not just the pressure which helps the predictions but the trend. Add the tempreture. and you have a fairly reliable means of predicting bad weather. Not forgetting fishermen would also be reading the sky as they always had.

I was unaware of thse Barometers and thier history thanks for showing and thanks to the chap who posted the link to the historic site.
I will have to ask my cousin about Stornoway and Malaig to see if they were aware of the Barometers. I don't recallever seeing one. I supose today they go largly unnoticed.

I learned somthing interesting today thanks. Now Im of to google who
 
Slight drift but love this one seen in Southern Brittany on a walk close to a marina.

Weather1_zps66da7dd7.jpg


Weather2_zps37ab339f.jpg


Weather3_zps33131dd4.jpg


Maybe should be the subject of a "where is it" as many UK sailors will have been there.
 
dylanwinter said:
how does this barometer work then

not mercury clearly - is it a vacuum of some sort
Click to expand...

As far as I can make out, it works on rainfall into the large spherical container, so more of a weather guide than a true barometer. The little quotes are more about local weather lore. Good fun all the same and a nice place to sit and ponder life and the universe on a hot summer's day.
 
davewarburton said:
As far as I can make out, it works on rainfall into the large spherical container, so more of a weather guide than a true barometer. The little quotes are more about local weather lore. Good fun all the same and a nice place to sit and ponder life and the universe on a hot summer's day.
Click to expand...

Could always use a haemorrhoid barometer!

Mike.
 
I thought it was supposed to be sunny all the time in Dunbar, so not sure why they need a barometer there.
 
As a boy I used to enjoy looking at the Fitzroy barometer at Fleetwood. It's always nice to spot them.

The one at Fowey was well preserved the last time I looked, next the the aquarium, and (almost sure) at Newlyn as well.

All sightings should be reported.
 
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