Reversing thermometer: Difference between revisions

From Glossary of Meteorology
(Created page with " {{TermHeader}} {{TermSearch}} <div class="termentry"> <div class="term"> == reversing thermometer == </div> <div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">A [[m...")
 
m (Rewrite with Template:Term and clean up)
 
(2 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{Term
 
|Display title=reversing thermometer
{{TermHeader}}
|Definitions={{Definition
{{TermSearch}}
|Num=1
 
|Meaning=A [[mercury-in-glass thermometer]] that records [[temperature]] upon being  inverted and thereafter retains its reading until returned to the first position.
<div class="termentry">
|Explanation=It consists of a conventional bulb connected to a capillary in which a constriction is placed so  that upon reversal the [[mercury column]] breaks off in a reproducible manner. The [[mercury]] runs  down into a smaller bulb at the other end of the capillary, which is graduated to read temperature.  A 360&#x000b0; turn in a locally widened portion of the capillary serves as a trap to prevent further addition  of mercury if the [[thermometer]] is warmed and the mercury expands past the break-off point. The  remote-reading potentialities of reversing thermometers make them particularly suitable for use in  measuring temperatures at depths in the sea. In this application, both protected thermometers and  unprotected thermometers are used, each of which is provided with an [[auxiliary thermometer]].  They are generally used in pairs in [[Nansen bottles]]. They are usually read to 0.01&#x000b0;C, and after  the proper corrections have been applied, their readings are considered reliable to 0.02&#x000b0;C. Details  of the [[correction]] procedure are given in [[Lafond's tables|Lafond's Tables]].
  <div class="term">
}}
== reversing thermometer ==
}}
  </div>
 
<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">A [[mercury-in-glass thermometer]] that records [[temperature]] upon being  inverted and thereafter retains its reading until returned to the first position.</div><br/> <div class="paragraph">It consists of a conventional bulb connected to a capillary in which a constriction is placed so  that upon reversal the [[mercury column]] breaks off in a reproducible manner. The [[mercury]] runs  down into a smaller bulb at the other end of the capillary, which is graduated to read temperature.  A 360&deg; turn in a locally widened portion of the capillary serves as a trap to prevent further addition  of mercury if the [[thermometer]] is warmed and the mercury expands past the break-off point. The  remote-reading potentialities of reversing thermometers make them particularly suitable for use in  measuring temperatures at depths in the sea. In this application, both protected thermometers and  unprotected thermometers are used, each of which is provided with an [[auxiliary thermometer]].  They are generally used in pairs in [[Nansen bottles]]. They are usually read to 0.01&deg;C, and after  the proper corrections have been applied, their readings are considered reliable to 0.02&deg;C. Details  of the [[correction]] procedure are given in [[Lafond's Tables]].</div><br/> </div>
</div>
 
{{TermIndex}}
{{TermFooter}}
 
[[Category:Terms_R]]

Latest revision as of 08:17, 27 March 2024

A mercury-in-glass thermometer that records temperature upon being inverted and thereafter retains its reading until returned to the first position.

It consists of a conventional bulb connected to a capillary in which a constriction is placed so that upon reversal the mercury column breaks off in a reproducible manner. The mercury runs down into a smaller bulb at the other end of the capillary, which is graduated to read temperature. A 360° turn in a locally widened portion of the capillary serves as a trap to prevent further addition of mercury if the thermometer is warmed and the mercury expands past the break-off point. The remote-reading potentialities of reversing thermometers make them particularly suitable for use in measuring temperatures at depths in the sea. In this application, both protected thermometers and unprotected thermometers are used, each of which is provided with an auxiliary thermometer. They are generally used in pairs in Nansen bottles. They are usually read to 0.01°C, and after the proper corrections have been applied, their readings are considered reliable to 0.02°C. Details of the correction procedure are given in Lafond's Tables.

Copyright 2025 American Meteorological Society (AMS). For permission to reuse any portion of this work, please contact permissions@ametsoc.org. Any use of material in this work that is determined to be “fair use” under Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act (17 U.S. Code § 107) or that satisfies the conditions specified in Section 108 of the U.S.Copyright Act (17 USC § 108) does not require AMS’s permission. Republication, systematic reproduction, posting in electronic form, such as on a website or in a searchable database, or other uses of this material, except as exempted by the above statement, require written permission or a license from AMS. Additional details are provided in the AMS Copyright Policy statement.