How should the reported pressure change be tracked for an hourly observation?

To determine how to track the reported pressure change for an hourly observation, it's essential to understand the criteria for significant changes in pressure. Meteorologists typically focus on substantial fluctuations because minor variations in atmospheric pressure may not significantly affect weather analysis or predictions.

When a pressure change is labeled as "significant," it typically refers to changes that do warrant attention due to their potential impact on weather patterns. This approach allows for a more efficient observation process, as it emphasizes noteworthy conditions rather than documenting every minor shift. By tracking pressure changes only when they are significant, meteorologists can concentrate on more critical data that could influence weather forecasts and aviation operations.

Other methods of tracking pressure, such as logging total changes over 24 hours, recording every hour regardless of the change, or logging daily irrespective of change, may result in an overload of data that does not necessarily contribute to improving weather observations. This can lead to distractions from more meaningful trends and patterns that arise from significant changes. Hence, the focus on significant changes provides a clearer and more actionable understanding of atmospheric conditions.