Geography Paper 3 WASSCE (PC), 2019

Question 5
(a) Define weather.
(b) List the instruments used for measuring the following elements of weather:
(i) temperature;
(ii) humidity;
(iii) sunshine;
(iv) wind speed;
(v) pressure.
(c) Explain how the rain gauge is used for the measurement of amount of rainfall.

Observation

 

This question was also popular among the candidates and quite a good number of those who answered the question were able to define weather and list the instrument used in measuring some elements of weather in the (a) and (b) part of the question respectively but only few of them could adequately explain how a rain gauge is used for the measurement of amount of rainfall. The candidates were expected to answer thus:

(a) Meaning of weather
It is the condition of the atmosphereof a place at a given time.

(b) Instruments used for measuring Elements of Weather
(i) temperature - Thermometer
(ii) humidity - Hygrometer
(iii) sunshine - Sunshine recorder/sun dial
(iv) wind speed - Anemometer
(v) pressure - Barometer

(c) How rain gauge is used for the measurement of rainfall
- mounted 30 cm above ground level
- funnel of rain guage should be level and not tilted
- mounted in open place
- mounted away from sprinklers and other sources of artificial precipitation
- reading is taken everyday
- the glass jar is brought out
- the rain water it contains is poured into the graduated cylinder
- reading the amount of rainfall is taken at eye level
- read off at the base of the curve of the meniscus
- the reading is recorded for the day
- measurement is in millimeters (mm)
- the water is wasted
- reading is done once everyday - reading is done regularly at about 9.00am - records are updated monthly and annually.