rain gauge worksheet

What size should a rain gauge be?

The 20 inch gauge is the norm throughout the National Weather Service. However, other agencies like the U.S. Forest Service often use the smaller gauge. The inner measuring tube of the large NWS gauge holds 2.0 inches of precipitation. The measuring tube of the small gauge holds 0.50 inch.

Which rain gauge is most accurate?

Analog rain gauges are very accurate with precise measurement markings, but some are highly accurate such as the Stratus Precision Rain Gauge which is accurate to 1/100th of an inch. Wireless rain gauges provide incredibly accurate rainfall or snow data as they connect directly to a national or global weather station.

How is inches of rain calculated?

A rain gauge is really just a cylinder that catches rain. If an inch collects in the cylinder, it means an inch of rain has fallen. ... Most standard rain gauges have a wide funnel leading into the cylinder and are calibrated so that one-tenth of an inch of rain measures one inch when it collects inside.

Who invented rain gauge?

Rain gauges are one of the most ancient weather instruments. The ancient Greeks and people in India were the first known to keep rainfall records, about 400–500 BC. In 1441, Korea invented the first standardised rain gauge, the Cheugugi.

What are the uses of rain gauge?

1.3 Rain gauge. A rain gauge is a meteorological instrument to measure the precipitating rain in a given amount of time per unit area. The instrument consists of a collection container which is placed in an open area.

Can you use a 5 gallon bucket for a rain gauge?

5 gallons is about 2/3 of a cubic foot, and 2 inches is 1/6 of a foot. 2/3 cubic feet divided by 1/6 feet is 4 square feet, so 2 inches of rain falling over an area of 4 square feet is enough to fill a 5-gallon bucket.

How do you calibrate a rain gauge?

Make a pinhole in the bottom of a plastic cup. Hold the cup over the rain gauge and fill it with exactly 1 cup (8 oz.) of water, allowing the water to slowly drip into the rain gauge. You should hear the internal buckets tip and see the water drain through the rain gauge.

Does it matter how wide a rain gauge is?

It doesn't matter because it is not the volume but the height of the water we measure. ... For example, on a yearly average, all oceans, lakes, outdoor swimming pools and rain gauges increase by nearly one meter! Click to see full answer.

How do I know if my rain gauge is accurate?

Tip: To have accurate results, ensure that all the water in the container is poured into the rain gauge before the test is complete. As the water flows into the rain gauge, the percentage error decreases until the measured value is the same as the expected rainfall. At that point, the error percentage is 0.00.

What is one problem with the accuracy of rain gauges?

One is they do not operate well or at all with frozen precipitation. The other is they under-catch during extremely heavy rainfall, i.e. those when over 1.5 inches of rain fall in an hour, because the tipping arm cannot keep up with the flow of rain through the bucket.

Where should I put my rain gauge?

Location! Keep your rain gauge in open areas as far away from obstacles as possible, whether trees, houses, or fences. Having your gauge level is another great way to keep the readings accurate. This will help rain from splashing out and to help with winds blowing.

Is 1 to 2 inches of rain a lot?

1/2 (0.5) of an inch of rain – A light rain never reaches this amount, moderate rain for 1-2 hours or heavy rain for 30-45 minutes. ... One (1.00) inch of rain – A light moderate rain never reaches this amount, heavy rain for several hours (2-5 hours). There would be deep standing water for long periods of time.

What does 1 cm rainfall mean?

If it is one Cm, it is one cm rainfall. To measure accurately, a measuring glass of 1/10 th base area of the rain gauge will be used. So 1 cm will go up to a height of 10 Cm but will be calibrated as only 1 Cm. One cm of measuring glass will then refer to one mm only and one mm will refer to 1/10th of a mm.

What does rainfall in inches mean?

Rainfall amount is described as the depth of water reaching the ground, typically in inches or millimeters (25 mm equals one inch). An inch of rain is exactly that, water that is one inch deep. One inch of rainfall equals 4.7 gallons of water per square yard or 22,650 gallons of water per acre!

What are the types of rain gauges?

The three major types of rain gauges are the standard gauge, tipping bucket gauge and weighing gauge. Further distinguishing aspects such as how they are set up and how they deliver data can be made, though the basic operation of rain gauges does not usually vary from these primary rain gauge types.

Why was the rain gauge invented?

Measuring rain levels for agricultural purposes, the rain gauge was first created in 1441 by King Sejong of the Korean Choson Dynasty. Therefore, the rain gauge was invented and used to measure rain amounts and to determine much tax to charge each citizen. ...

Why rainfall is measured in cm?

Intensity of rainfall is the rate at which it falls at any one time. It is expressed as cm per hour or mm per hour. Rainfall is measured by means of rain gauges. ... The rainfall collected in the bottle is measured with the help of a graduated measuring cylinder furnished with each rain gauge.

What household items can you use to make a rain gauge?

Making a Rain Gauge

Cut the top section off a clear bottle as shown. ...
Place several small rocks in the bottom (for weight), then fill the bottle with water to the 0 mark. ...
Invert the top of the bottle into to rain gauge to act as a funnel. ...
Wait for the next rain and observe and record rainfall amounts.

How is rain water measured?

Instruments. The standard instrument for the measurement of rainfall is the 203mm (8 inch) rain gauge. This is essentially a circular funnel with a diameter of 203mm which collects the rain into a graduated and calibrated cylinder. The measuring cylinder can record up to 25mm of precipitation.

What is rain gauge station?

The Rain Gauge Station's data provides information of precipitation patterns and events as they happen, helping the system operator understand and predict runoff.