GLASS WEATHER INDICATOR HOW TO

Over time, you’ll be able to predict the weather based on how your glass behaves. If possible, include temperature, barometer readings (pressure), and relative humidity. In addition to the characteristics of the liquid (clear, cloudy, stars, threads, flakes, crystals, and the location of crystals), record as much data as possible about the weather. Record your observations about the glass and the weather. Weather forecasting with a storm glass is not an exact science, but you’ll improve your predictions if you keep a log. Over time, you’ll get a sense for what the appearance of your storm glass means.

Large flakes scattered throughout the liquid: overcast skies, possibly with rain or snow.

Cloudy liquid with small stars: thunderstorms or snow, depending on the temperature.

Small dots in the liquid: potentially humid or foggy weather.

Cloudy liquid: cloudy weather, perhaps with precipitation.

GLASS WEATHER INDICATOR HOW TO

Here is how to interpret a storm glass to predict the weather: Otherwise, place the glass on a shelf or table near an outer wall. Ideally, choose a window that gets relatively constant light throughout the day. You’ll get the best results placing the glass on a window sill. Placement of the storm glass plays a large role in how well it works. Use a Storm Glass to Predict the Weather It rarely snows in South Carolina, but when it did, I saw the most beautiful crystals in my storm glass. If that happens, check the purity of your chemicals and try again with better products. But, if the solution is cloudy, it’s likely the glass won’t function as intended. A slight amber tint (usually from an impurity in the camphor) is common and won’t affect storm glass function. However, impurities in the ingredients may result in a colored liquid. Ideally, your storm glass contains colorless, transparent liquid that forms crystals in response to the external environment. If you use a cork, wrap it with parafilm or coat it with wax to ensure a good seal. To seal glass, apply heat to the top of the tube until it softens, and tilt the tube so the glass edges melt together. Either place the mixture in a corked test tube or seal it within glass.You may need to warm the solutions to get them to mix. Add the potassium nitrate and ammonium chloride solution to the camphor solution.Dissolve the potassium nitrate and ammonium chloride in the water.Once you collect the chemicals, construction is easy: A water filter cartridge works, but if you use it then it will no longer be suitable for filtering drinking water! How to Make a Storm Glass Simply place some activated charcoal on a coffee filter and pour the alcohol through the charcoal. It’s possible the colored product may work just fine in a storm glass, creating a glass with a lavender liquid. While denatured alcohol sold in the United States is clear, it’s dyed in some other countries and may go by the name “methylated spirits.” Denatured alcohol sold within the European Union (EU) is ethanol, with smaller amounts of isopropyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone, denatonium benzonate (to make it taste bitter), and methyl violet (to dye it purple). If you use vodka, use 73 mL to replace the alcohol and water. Another option is to use 100-proof vodka (or other clear spirit).

You can also use 70% alcohol, but then you need to use 16 mL water and 57 mL alcohol (because part of the product already contains water). Check to make sure it is denatured ethanol (ethyl alcohol) and not isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol). For ethanol, it’s easiest to use 99% alcohol from a drug store. Be sure to use distilled water or water purified by reverse osmosis and not tap water or spring water. You can make the ammonium chloride, if you like. You can buy some of the chemicals in store or order them online. They display multiple crystal shapes, so even if you don’t use them to predict the weather, they are fun to watch.

Storm glass crystals can appear anywhere in the liquid.

Glass weather indicator