4.1 Signal Conditioning

The simpler analog systems utilize the electrical output from a transducer to directly drive the varying pen position on a strip chart. For some variables, such as wind run (total passage of wind) and precipitation, the transducer may produce a binary voltage (either "on" or "off") which is translated into an event mark on the strip chart. Many analog systems and virtually all digital systems require a signal conditioner to translate the transducer output into a form that is suitable for the remainder of the data acquisition system. This translation may include amplifying the signal, buffering the signal (which in effect isolates the transducer from the data acquisition system), or converting a current (amperage) signal into a voltage signal.

4. METEOROLOGICAL DATA RECORDING
 4.1 Signal Conditioning 
 4.2 Recording Mechanisms 
 4.3 Analog-to-Digital Conversion 
 4.4 Data Communication 
 4.5 Sampling Rates 
 4.6 Recommendations