what does it mean if a barometer says 1008??

Question

what does it mean if a barometer says 1008??

Answer 1

It means that the barometric pressure is 1008 millibars. This is slightly lower than the average sea level pressure of 1013 millibar, meaning that a low pressure system is present and the threat of bad weather is elevated.

Answer 2

All it means is that the atmospheric pressure in that particular location is 1008 millibars. Most of the world recognise that the INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ATMOSPHERE is +15 degrees celcius at sea level with a pressure of 1013.2 millibars.



The fact that you see 1008 indicated is neither a sign of good weather or bad weather as it is the TREND which shows this.



For example: monday 1008, tuesday 1012, wednesday 1015, shows that the pressure in the area is building creating a bit more atmospheric stability and chances are the weather will improve, but it is not accurate as there are lots of other factors to be taken into consideration such as surrounding weather systems etc.



Equally 1008 can be a HIGH or a LOW as it is relative to the surrounding pressure systems, if neighbouring systems are 1030 then 1008 is a LOW if they are 998 then 1008 is a HIGH.



Another consideration is height and temperature and the relationship between them:



For every 30 feet you are above SEA LEVEL your barometer will drop by 1 millibar, so if your barometer was at 150 feet then the pressure at SEA LEVEL would be 1013.



For each 1000 feet you are the temperature drops by 1.98 degrees celcius (call it 2), so if the temperature at 150 feet was around 14.7 degrees celcius with your 1008 then you would be close to ISA conditions which doesnt really mean anything anyway!



In short, your barometer can be a useful tool in predicting the weather but you need other information as well, its probably like trying to tell the time on a watch with no minute hand, you can have a stab at it but it probably wont be too accurate.



Hope this helps, sorry about the techie bits.

Answer 3

JLynes and Thomas H have the correct answer.



But you also need to make sure that your barometer is calibrated to the correct reading. It also may be reading low if your elevation is somewhat higher above sea level. You should look at some of the surrounding ALTIMETER readings from weather stations around you (they'll be in inches of mercury (inHg), for example a reading of 29.92 (or 2992)) and then you'll have to find some sort of conversion (easy to find online) to millibars if your barometer doesn't have a corresponding scale reading in inHg.

Answer 4

barometer actually reads pressure so as you said 1008 it means the pressure is 1008 pascal or atm (units)

Answer 5

When you read a Barometer, it reports the pressure in 2 methods.



Standard atmosphereic pressure is 1013.2 millibars (MB) or 29.92 inches of Mercury (Hg).



So what you are seeing is the actual pressure that the column of air ABOVE your barometer exerts upon the instrument.

Answer 6

High pressure, so fine weather and little chance of rain - a lovely summer day in other words. If the barometer dips back towards 1000 it means that a change is on the way. Pressure is dropping and it may rain. Below 1000 and it's probably raining.

Answer 7

It's probably measuring pressure in hPa or mBar.



1008 is lower than standard sea level pressure (1013.25 mBar). So that means you are in a "low" pressure system.



Usually low pressure systems are indicative of "bad" weather to come.

Answer 8

if you're seeing sun and humid conditions, that's pretty unstable with a barometric pressure of 29.77 inches. This means that a strong cold front is in the area or a fairly weak low pressure is near.

Answer 9

Normal atmospheric pressure at sea level is 29.9"Hg

1 bar = 1013 millibars = 29.9"Hg = 760mmHg = 101.3kPa

1008 millibars = 100.8kPa = 29.775"Hg = 756.3mmHg

Therefore, 1008mmbar is very slightly below normal atmospheric.

The weather should hold fair but, if it's still falling, it's approaching a 'Weather Change' condition.

Answer 10

It means you've got a talking barometer. How cool is that?



Sorry, I don't know.

Answer 11

the pressure is high which normally means fine weather so it must be wrong as the weather is crap and the pressure is low at the moment

Answer 12

Since the barometric pressure is usually 29-30 I would imagine that would be bad news.

Answer 13

Get one that talks Fahrenheit

Answer 14

It means it's slow by about........999 years.