Many people consult a barometer before going out, to see what the weather is likely to be. Barometers measure the general pressure of the atmosphere, which changes with the weather: falling pressure generally heralds rain; rising pressure predicts fine weather. The simple mercury barometer originated in seventeenth century Italy and was soon copied in France and Britain. In the nineteenth century demand increased for domestic and scientific barometers. They were needed for weather forecasting, and surveyors carried them to measure height above sea level. Since 1850, mercury barometers have been gradually ousted by aneroids, which are smaller and more robust but nowadays equally accurate.
- ISBN10 0852639635
- ISBN13 9780852639634
- Publish Date October 1988
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 12 July 1993
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
- Imprint Shire Publications
- Format Paperback
- Pages 32
- Language English