Fitzroy's Storm Glass, Glass Barometer

Fitzroy's Storm Glass, Glass Barometer

Admiral Robert Fitzroy is an ancient weather forcaster instrument, it has been around since 1750. Robert Fitzroy described the storm-glass in The Weather Book  published in 1863. The storm-glass, sometimes known as the chemical barometer or camphor glass. Examples of this instrument can still be found in antique shops throughout the world.

It consists of a sealed glass bottle containing a mixture of chemicals that undergo interesting and unusual crystal growth in response to changing weather conditions.

• If the liquid in the glass is clear, the weather will be bright and clear.
• If the liquid is cloudy, the weather will be cloudy as well, perhaps with precipitation.
• If there are small dots in the liquid, humid or foggy weather can be expected.
• A cloudy glass with small stars indicates thunderstorms.
• If the liquid contains small stars on sunny winter days, then snow is coming.
• If there are large flakes throughout the liquid, it will be overcast in temperate seasons or snowy in the winter.
• If there are crystals at the bottom, this indicates frost.
• If there are threads near the top, it will be windy.