The present invention relates to an instrumentation apparatus for receiving and recording acoustic signals in a range of depths of approximately 5 100 m beneath the ocean surface and for providing a set of data outputs from which wind velocity and rainfall rate at the surface may be derived. The apparatus includes an omnidirectional hydrophone for substantially isotropical reception of acoustic energy from its upper hemisphere and for producing an output signal representative of the wind velocity and the rainfall rate at the surface. The apparatus further includes a preamplifier connected to the output of the hydrophone and a circuit for processing the amplified signal and recording data derived therefrom. This circuit includes a microprocessor and a data storage device.