The Weather Observer’s Handbook provides a comprehensive, practical and independent guide to all aspects of making weather observations. Automatic weather stations today form the mainstay of both amateur and professional weather observing networks around the world and yet – prior to this book – there existed no independent guide to their selection and use.

Traditional and modern weather instruments are covered, including how best to choose and to site a weather station, how to get the best out of the various instruments and sensors, how to store and analyse the records obtained and how to share observations with other people and across the Internet.

From amateur observers looking for help in choosing their first weather instruments on a tight budget to professional observers looking for a comprehensive and up-to-date guide covering World Meteorological Organization global and national recommendations on observing methods and practices, all will welcome this handbook.

About the author

Stephen Burt has a professional background in physics, meteorology and climatology, information technology and marketing. He is a Fellow of the UK’s Royal Meteorological Society and is also a member of both the American Meteorological Society and the Irish Meteorological Society.

He has run his own meteorological observatory for more than 40 years. After almost 10 years with the UK Met Office he took up a business career within the computer industry, successfully managing international marketing roles for several of the world’s largest high-technology firms. Stephen is a regular contributor to the Royal Meteorological Society’s monthly magazine Weather, with more than 100 published papers or articles and several hundred published photographs to date.

He is a recent member of the Royal Meteorological Society’s Council governing body, Chairman of the Society’s South-east Centre and a long-standing committee member of the Society’s Special Interest Group on Weather Observing Systems. Stephen was awarded the Royal Meteorological Society’s Gordon Manley Prize in 2006. He is also a Trustee of the Chilterns Observatory Trust and Chairman of the Climatological Observers Link.

The Weather Observer’s Handbook endorsements:

“This is a very impressive work!… At last there is a comprehensive book on the tricky issue of accurately measuring the weather. This timely publication is a must for anyone in the market for a weather station, libraries, and weather observers of all stripes, both amateur and professional.”
Christopher C. Burt (no relation to Stephen), Weather Historian, Wunderground, Inc. and author of Extreme Weather: A Guide and Record Book

“With this marvellous book, Stephen Burt has given us a very practical and helpful guide to installing and using one’s own reporting station. The Weather Observer’s Handbook is an ideal companion to the practice of monitoring the atmosphere.”
Robert Henson, author of The Rough Guide to Weather and The Rough Guide to Climate Change

“We have many amateur members and schools in our Society and I’m often asked if I can recommend a good book to help them in their observing exploits: well now I can. … If you have an interest in observing the weather then this book is as essential as your observing equipment.”
Professor Paul Hardaker, Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society

“I like this book very much. I am a lifelong weather observer and user of weather data both as an amateur and a career professional – spanning the years from manual-only to globally-networked automated observing systems. This book answers so many of the questions I have had over the decades and the many questions I continue to field – from fresh beginners, to experienced amateurs and on to a wide range of professionals. At last I have a single book that I can point people to. It is comprehensive and scientifically rigorous – yet very readable. Thank you, Stephen – well done.”
Nolan Doesken, Colorado State Climatologist, former President of the American Association of State Climatologists, and founder of the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow network

Where to purchase:

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