A Rain Gauge helps in measuring the quantity of rain that falls over a set period of time (usually 24 hours). A fairly simple machine, rain gauges are used by hobbyists and serious rain data trackers alike apart from the weather observatories.
A little bit concerning the history of the common-or-garden machine – situations of measuring rainfall by the Greeks dates back to 500 BC. There are evidences of rainfall recording in India for classifying land for taxation purposes starting from round 400 BC. The more fashionable and standardized versions of the rain gauge took form in the fifteenth century.
Among the widespread types of rain gauges are:
The Normal Rain gauge
Tipping Bucket Rain gauge
The Customary Rain gauge has a conical funnel emptying right into a graduated cylinder. The cylinder is marked in millimeters (mm) or inches (in) and might measure as much as 250 mm. The readings are recorded by measuring the height of the water collected in the cylinder.
The Tipping Bucket Rain gauge again has a funnel which directs the water to a twin bucket shaped container pivoted on its center. The falling water tilts the bucket when it is full and thus emptying the water. Simultaneously, the opposite bucket goes as much as collect the incoming water. Every tilt of the bucket is recorded either through a sensor or actuating a switch. The number of tilts is recorded over periodic time intervals (the time intervals are pre set and is usually of the order of a few minutes). Since the volume of the bucket is known, the total number of tilts recorded over a time period gives the precipitation value. A heating mechanism for the bucket does the trick in recording frozen precipitation.
Rain gauges will be an integral part of climate observatories beaming real time data on various weather related aspects. Automated weather stations document multiple parameters like Temperature, Rainfall, Atmospheric Pressure, Humidity among others earlier than broadcasting it to a server.
At a personal pastime level, handbook rain gauges serve the aim and being easy on the pocket as well. Weather fans can collect rainfall data and share it with volunteer observer programs like
National Climate Service – Cooperative Observer Program (Coop)
Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS)
Higher quantity of volunteer observers increases the significance of the reported data as weather associated adjustments at very granular levels will be captured.
