Pressure and Temperature Observations in Venice by Bernardino Zendrini from 1738 to 1743

This study aims to recover, interpret and analyse the early meteorological observations made in Venice by Bernardino Zendrini from 1738 to 1743. Zendrini used a cistern barometer, an Amontons-type air thermometer and an additional mercury thermometer, i.e., a de l’Isle one. By comparing and interpre...

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Main Authors: Dario Camuffo, Antonio della Valle, Francesca Becherini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Atmosphere
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/7/759
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author Dario Camuffo
Antonio della Valle
Francesca Becherini
author_facet Dario Camuffo
Antonio della Valle
Francesca Becherini
author_sort Dario Camuffo
collection DOAJ
description This study aims to recover, interpret and analyse the early meteorological observations made in Venice by Bernardino Zendrini from 1738 to 1743. Zendrini used a cistern barometer, an Amontons-type air thermometer and an additional mercury thermometer, i.e., a de l’Isle one. By comparing and interpreting the existing details, the instruments have been re-imagined, interpreted and discussed; finally their unknown scale and calibration points have been calculated. The barometer readings needed standard corrections, which were not known at that time. The scale of the air thermometers was in inches of mercury. Zendrini used a reversed scale, with boiling water set to 0, but neglected the second calibration point and the length of the tube. In addition, he gave the thermoscopic readings without the corresponding pressures. The methodology for the calibration, validation and transformation of the readings into modern units, i.e., hPa and °C, is carefully discussed. This paper provides and analyses new data, and improves our knowledge about the history of science, meteorological measurements, instruments and observations in the first half of the 18th century.
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spelling doaj-art-d789460eae7248b2a400d376fed317ee2025-08-20T03:13:36ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332025-06-0116775910.3390/atmos16070759Pressure and Temperature Observations in Venice by Bernardino Zendrini from 1738 to 1743Dario Camuffo0Antonio della Valle1Francesca Becherini2National Research Council of Italy—Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padua, ItalyNational Research Council of Italy—Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padua, ItalyNational Research Council of Italy—Institute of Polar Sciences, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venice, ItalyThis study aims to recover, interpret and analyse the early meteorological observations made in Venice by Bernardino Zendrini from 1738 to 1743. Zendrini used a cistern barometer, an Amontons-type air thermometer and an additional mercury thermometer, i.e., a de l’Isle one. By comparing and interpreting the existing details, the instruments have been re-imagined, interpreted and discussed; finally their unknown scale and calibration points have been calculated. The barometer readings needed standard corrections, which were not known at that time. The scale of the air thermometers was in inches of mercury. Zendrini used a reversed scale, with boiling water set to 0, but neglected the second calibration point and the length of the tube. In addition, he gave the thermoscopic readings without the corresponding pressures. The methodology for the calibration, validation and transformation of the readings into modern units, i.e., hPa and °C, is carefully discussed. This paper provides and analyses new data, and improves our knowledge about the history of science, meteorological measurements, instruments and observations in the first half of the 18th century.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/7/759early instrumental recordsair pressureair temperaturebarometerAmontons thermometerde l’Isle thermometer
spellingShingle Dario Camuffo
Antonio della Valle
Francesca Becherini
Pressure and Temperature Observations in Venice by Bernardino Zendrini from 1738 to 1743
Atmosphere
early instrumental records
air pressure
air temperature
barometer
Amontons thermometer
de l’Isle thermometer
title Pressure and Temperature Observations in Venice by Bernardino Zendrini from 1738 to 1743
title_full Pressure and Temperature Observations in Venice by Bernardino Zendrini from 1738 to 1743
title_fullStr Pressure and Temperature Observations in Venice by Bernardino Zendrini from 1738 to 1743
title_full_unstemmed Pressure and Temperature Observations in Venice by Bernardino Zendrini from 1738 to 1743
title_short Pressure and Temperature Observations in Venice by Bernardino Zendrini from 1738 to 1743
title_sort pressure and temperature observations in venice by bernardino zendrini from 1738 to 1743
topic early instrumental records
air pressure
air temperature
barometer
Amontons thermometer
de l’Isle thermometer
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/7/759
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AT antoniodellavalle pressureandtemperatureobservationsinvenicebybernardinozendrinifrom1738to1743
AT francescabecherini pressureandtemperatureobservationsinvenicebybernardinozendrinifrom1738to1743