Pressure measurements
In meteorology, air pressure and its changes relate to low and high-pressure fronts and their movements. A rapid drop in air pressure indicates an approaching storm or rain front, while increasing pressure brings the promise of clearer skies and sunshine.
In industrial applications, pressure is measured in laboratories and life science applications, for example.
What makes our pressure sensors unique?
Vaisala’s proprietary BAROCAP® micromechanical sensor uses dimensional changes in its silicon membrane to measure pressure. As the surrounding pressure changes, the membrane bends, thereby changing the height of the vacuum gap inside the sensor.
The opposite sides of the vacuum gap act as electrodes, and as the distance between the two electrodes increases or decreases, the sensor capacitance changes. The capacitance is measured and converted into a pressure reading. Read more about Vaisala’s BAROCAP® technology here.
Measurement excellence
The BAROCAP® sensor’s properties – good low temperature dependence and superior long-term stability – are the result of its single-crystal silicon material.
The capacitive structure gives the sensor its wide dynamic range, very fast response time and provides a built-in mechanism for overpressure blocking.
Vaisala’s pressure offering includes digital barometers and barometric pressure sensors for measuring both barometric pressure and process pressure in industrial applications. BAROCAP® barometers operate over a wide temperature range and perform reliably even in highly demanding applications such as professional meteorology and aviation.
Vaisala offers also multi-parameter products, combining pressure measurements with dew point, humidity and temperature data.
Typical weather-related applications
Barometric pressure measurement has a wide variety of applications within meteorology. It is commonly used in weather, aviation, hydrology, and agrology applications.
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), analyzed pressure fields are a fundamental requirement of meteorology. It is one of the key parameters for numerical weather models as pressure data is required for defining the high and low pressure systems.
For numerical weather modeling it is imperative that these pressure fields are accurately defined as they form the basis for all subsequent preconditions of the state of the atmosphere. Typically a high pressure system indicates nice weather and low pressure system predicts precipitation or cloudy conditions. Thus, accurate atmospheric pressure measurements are crucial.
Barometric pressure is also a crucial parameter in aviation applications where it is used to set the aircraft altimeters. Therefore, it is used as operational safety instrument in aviation systems.
Typical industrial applications
Barometric pressure data is also required in several industrial applications. It is measured in pressure-sensitive industrial equipment, such as laser interferometers and lithography systems, engine-testing benches, and in exhaust-gas analysis.
Metrological applications include laboratory pressure standard measurements and environmental monitoring in calibration laboratories.
Pressure measurements can be critical also in regulated life science and high technology cleanroom applications. In these applications, continuous, documented and redundant data is a required to meet regulations.
Excellent long term stability
Reliable single crystal technology
Accuracy over complete temperature range
Wide measurement range with fast response
Pressure measurement related products
Digital Barometer PTB330
Weather Transmitter WXT530 Series
Barometric Pressure Transfer Standard PTB330TS
vNet Power over Ethernet (PoE) Logger Interface
PTB210 Digital Barometer
Barometric pressure measurements with Indigo520 Transmitter
Differential Pressure Transmitter PDT102
Dew Point and Pressure Transmitter DPT146
Static Pressure Heads SPH10/20
PTB110 Barometer
Pressure insight and materials
Vaisala BAROCAP® Technology
BAROCAP is a micromechanical sensor that uses dimensional changes in its silicon membrane to measure pressure.
BAROCAP® technology in space
The unforgiving conditions in space pose strict demands on technology, requiring the most reliable sensors that can be trusted to endure without repair. You simply cannot venture out into these conditions with just any instrumentation. The MEDA device package is equipped with Vaisala’s HUMICAP® humidity sensors and BAROCAP® pressure sensors known for their long-term stability and accuracy. The devices are similar to the ones already delivered to Mars on the first Curiosity rover in 2012.
Enhancing the Quality of Height and Pressure Measurements in Radiosoundings
This article presents improved ways of working in synoptic sounding, which is used to acquire atmosphere profiles. The key points are gathered from the field and supported by recent research.
