The Use of the Rain Gauge as an Instrument
for Home Weather Forecasting
for Home Weather Forecasting
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An essential piece of equipment to be found in even the most basic of weather buff's tool kit is the simple rain gauge. Rain gauges come in all different sizes and styles.
No weather watcher worth his salt would be caught dead without an accurate rain measuring device.
Not just any container qualifies as a rain gauge. The measurements have to be determined by how much water over a specified area makes a certain depth of rain within that container, in inches or centimeters. For metric measurements, the container must be a different size from the common "inches" measurements.
Again, all the universe, it seems, has gone electronic. Though the common rain gauge still must be viewed by a pair of human eyes, it can be measured electronically. This can also be accomplished using a wireless rain gauge in which the measurement signals are sent to a computerized device on the inside of a building such as the home. This way, the weather person doesn't have to get wet when measuring the rainfall amounts.
Simple rain gauges can be purchased or even made by just about anyone. Parts can be purchased separately, in a hardware store. It is also possible to find entire rain gauge kits, with all parts included. All one has to do is put them together.
There are a number of different types of rain measuring devices. Of course, the most common being the open container device where the rain simply enters the top of the container and is measured with the markings on the side of the container. Most of these types of gauges are either clear glass or plastic so that the contents can be easily viewed.
There is a device called a "tipping bucket rain gauge" in which rain is collected in a funnel-like container and when the amount in the container reaches a certain amount, say 0.10 inches, the container tips over, spilling the collected rain out. It then resets itself and begins to collect again. Since the measuring equipment knows that when the bucket tips, it has measured 1/10th of an inch of rain, it simply adds up the number of times the bucket is tipped in order to determine how much rain has been measured. This is a great instrument to teach kids about measuring rainfall and can easily be built as a weather project.
For those who want to know how much rain has fallen in their particular garden, there is what is known as a "garden rain gauge". Though no different than the standard gauge, these are usually more decorative and can be matched to the surrounding terrain and landscaping. Garden gauges can be standard, electronic, wireless and/or digital as well.
Some types of rain gauges are considered to be more accurate than others. There are a number of different types of gauges and the quality of each is determined by the individual weather person's preference.
Some popular types and brands include the analog rain gauges and the digital rain gauges. Some popular rain measuring instruments include the Chaney Instrument Wireless Rain Gauge w/ Monitor
If you're fashion or aesthetically conscious, you can also use decorative rain gauges that can be found in just about any mode and style to match your home, garden or patio.
Just keep in mind, when purchasing a good rain gauge, that you can find these tool anywhere from very low-tech to very high-tech and can spend as much as you desire so the choices are various.
For convenience, one may like the wireless models. If you want to add some character and form, go for the decorative instruments. And if you're looking for more high tech, you may want to consider the digital form of the rain measurement device.
Whatever your choice, you can find a rain gauge to suit your needs. They're the most abundant and available form of weather instrument. Be sure to check out all the other instruments that make a great weather station, such as barometers, thermometers, anemometers, compasses, weather maps, weather vanes and atomic clocks.