The dial of the barometer is marked with the words “Fair,” “Change,” and “Rain,” etc., but these words have no significance, and should be disregarded. For instance, 29½ is marked “Change”; 30, “Fair”; 31, “Very dry”; 28½, “Rain.” If the barometer, which has been standing at 30.9, suddenly drops down to 29.9, this is positive indication that a storm is approaching, with strong winds, yet, according to the dial on the aneroid, the reading would be “Fair.” If the barometer were standing at 28 and rose to 29, this would actually indicate approach of cold, dry weather, and yet on the dial it reads “Rain.” This simply goes to show that the readings on the dial are of no significance whatsoever, and are not to be relied upon. The aneroid is not as accurate an instrument as the mercurial, so should be checked up occasionally with the mercurial barometer. [Illustration: _Courtesy Taylor Instrument Companies Rochester, N. Y._ Fig. 46 ] The aneroid type of barometer is also used in altitude work, but must be compensated before using. This type of barometer possesses several advantages over the mercurial in that it is portable and therefore used for altitude work; at sea it is used because there is no fluid to become unsettled by the motion of the vessel; it is used also in observatory work because the action is quicker than the mercurial barometer action, and sudden changes likely to occur are indicated. INDICATIONS FROM THE BAROMETER A single observation reading of the barometer is of no significance. Readings must be taken at different intervals or the results will be misleading. The important thing about the barometer is to watch the rise and fall, particularly, whether it is gradual or rapid. From no single reading can you make an observation or a forecast. A rapid rise indicates that a strong wind is apt to blow. A rapid fall indicates that the weather will be unsettled, and that strong winds are apt to blow. Both indicate a change in the weather, depending upon many things, particularly, however, the direction from which the wind blows. If an observer stands with the wind blowing on his back, the area of low barometric pressure will be at his left, and that of high barometric pressure at his right. With low pressure in the west and high pressure in the east, the wind will be from the south; but with low pressure in the east and high pressure in the west, the wind will be from the north. The barometer rises for northerly winds, from northwest by the north to eastward, for dry, or less wet weather, for less wind, or for more than one of these changes—except on a few occasions, when rain, hail, or snow comes from the northward with strong wind. The barometer falls for southerly wind, from southeast, by the south, to the westward, for wet weather, for stronger wind, or for more than one of these changes, except on a few occasions, when moderate wind with rain or snow comes from the northward.