Dark adaptor goggles

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Dark adaptor goggles are one of the lesser known tools in the field of meteorology. They can be used for either adapting the eyes to the dark prior to an observation at night or to aid with the identification of clouds during bright sunshine or glare from snow.

The goggles are made of clear, red tinted, plastic with an adjustable elastic strap to hold them in place. Although the goggles are designed to be worn inside some people find walking, especially up and down stairs, to be difficult.

For use at night the observer should put the goggles on about ten minutes prior to going outside. Once the observer is outside and away from major sources of light the goggles may be removed and the observers vision should be adapted to the dark.

To help with the identification of clouds during the day the goggles should be put on just before the observer goes outside. This will ensure the eyes are not affected by the glare from the sun or snow.

At no time should the goggles be used to help assess the visibility.

[edit] References

• Environment Canada - Atmospheric Environment Services, Manual of Surface Weather Observations (MANOBS), 7th Edition, January 1977.

Meteorological instrumentation and equipment (Earth based)

Anemometer | Barograph | Barometer | Ceiling balloon | Ceiling projector | Ceilometer | Dark adaptor goggles | Disdrometer | Field mill | Hygrometer | Ice Accretion Indicator | LIDAR | Lightning detector | Nephelometer | Nephoscope | Pyranometer | Radiosonde | Rain gauge | Snow gauge | SODAR | Solarimeter | Sounding rocket | Stevenson screen | Sunshine recorders | Thermograph | Thermometer | Weather balloon | Weather radar | Weather vane | Windsock | Wind profiler