International Journal of Frontiers in Engineering Technology, 2025, 7(4); doi: 10.25236/IJFET.2025.070405.
Ke Liang1, Chen Chen2, Yaqin Zhou1, Xiaodan Lai3, Shijie Ding3, Zhen Du1
1Zhangjiaijie Meteorological Bureau, Zhangjiaijie, Hunan Province, 427000, China
2Hunan Meteorological Equipment Center, Changsha, 410118, China
3Cili County Meteorological Bureau, Cili, Hunan Province, 427200, China
As a key discipline for understanding the atmosphere and predicting weather conditions, meteorology relies heavily on advanced meteorological equipment. This paper comprehensively reviews the current status, key technologies, applications, and future trends of such equipment. It first traces the evolution of meteorological equipment: in the 16th-17th centuries, simple instruments like liquid-in-glass thermometers and mercury barometers laid the foundation for quantitative meteorological observations; in the 20th century, radiosondes and rockets expanded observations to the three-dimensional atmosphere; since the 1940s, remote-sensing technologies such as meteorological radar and the 1960-launched TIROS-1 meteorological satellite have ushered in an era of global-scale observations. The paper then elaborates on the working principles of key equipment for measuring temperature (thermocouple, thermistor thermometers), humidity (capacitive sensors, electrolytic hygrometer strips), wind (cup/propeller anemometers, wind vanes), precipitation (rain gauges, weather radar), and atmospheric pressure (mercury/aneroid barometers, piezoelectric/capacitive sensors). These devices find wide applications in numerical weather prediction (e.g., ECMWF’s forecasts), aviation safety, marine operations, agricultural decision-making (e.g., irrigation planning), and disaster prevention (e.g., hurricane early warning).Current challenges include ensuring sensor accuracy and calibration, integrating heterogeneous data, and balancing cost-effectiveness. Future trends focus on MEMS-driven miniaturization and integration of sensors, big data and AI-driven analysis (e.g., Microsoft’s Aurora and Huawei’s Pangu models), and advanced remote-sensing technologies (e.g., high-resolution satellites, UAV-based observations). In conclusion, the advancement of meteorological equipment will continue to enhance the understanding and prediction of atmospheric phenomena, contributing to a safer and more resilient society.
Meteorological Equipment, Meteorological Instruments, Remote-sensing Technology, MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems), Big Data, AI (Artificial Intelligence), Sensor Technology
Ke Liang, Chen Chen, Yaqin Zhou, Xiaodan Lai, Shijie Ding, Zhen Du. Advances and Applications of Meteorological Equipment. International Journal of Frontiers in Engineering Technology (2025), Vol. 7, Issue 4: 31-36. https://doi.org/10.25236/IJFET.2025.070405.
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