QA Rain Gauge

Have you ever given the rain falling outside much thought? Sure, it is helping your dry lawn turn green again and it is lowering the temperature. But what about how many inches it has rained? Do you keep track of the rainfall in your area? You may not but there are countless scientists and researchers that do. And the most important instrument that they use is one many people employ just for personal use. It is a rain gauge. This special gauge is instrumental in determining how much rain has fallen so that weather specialists and researchers can help predict weather patterns. It is such a simple machine yet it yields so much information. The more you can know about this little gauge, the better you can understand the simplest things such as planting certain foliage and flowers for your area. In this article we will discuss the history of rain gauges as well as how they are used. You may want to buy one of your very own.

What is a rain gauge?

Meteorologists and hydrologists must be able to accurately, or somewhat accurately, know how much precipitation they have in a given area each time it rains. So they use an instrument called a rain gauge. But rain gauges also called udometers or pluviometers. These specific instruments measure the amount of rainfall. Many people think that rain gauges are also used to see solid precipitation but they actually do not. They are pretty much single use instruments because they only measure rain. It is not just scientists though that uses these gauges. You will often find rain gauges on farms and in front yards so that the people who own them know how much rain they just received. It can be a good indicator of whether or not they need to artificially water their crops or plants.

How is the water measured in a rain gauge?

Rain gauges measure water in millimeters most often. The principle is quite simple. A gauge is placed out in the open away from structures or trees. Then when rain comes, the drops go into the funnel and are later measured and reported in. But there are some problems with this method. The first is that the estimate might be wrong due to winds redirecting the flow of the rain. The second is that if the temperature is too low, ice or snow may accumulate before or after the rain and make it impossible for more rainfall to be measured.

Will a rain gauge measure snow as well as rain?

Technically it is possible for any type of rain gauge to measure the amount of snow but some are better for the job than most. The weighing precipitation gauge is by far the most versatile gauge to use because it goes on weight versus volume. Your standard cylinder gauge could easily become blocked and be unable to measure the precipitation accurately.

Where can I purchase a rain gauge?

You can find rain gauges in a wide range of stores. Many department stores will sell decorate rain gauges that many people use as decoration in their yards. Other great places to look for rain gauges are feed stores, home improvement stores and even craft stores. You can also buy rain gauges on Ebay, which is good because you might get a better deal and a better selection.