What are the Different Types of Rain Gauges?
Measuring rainfall can be is primarily done in three different ways using three different 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. Let’s take a closer look at these types of rain gauges and how they work.
The Standard Rain Gauge
The recording of rainfall using the standard or funnel rain gauge is generally done manually. These gauges work by catching the falling rain in a funnel-shaped collector that is attached to a measuring tube. The area of the collector is 10 times that of the tube; thus, the rain gauge works by magnifying the liquid by a factor of 10.
Magnifying the rain in this way allows precise measurements down to a one-hundredth of an inch. Amounts that exceed the tube capacity are caught in the outer shell of the gauge, allowing the recorder to pour out the liquid in the tube and fill it back up if needed.
The Tipping Bucket Rain Gauge
The operation of a tipping bucket rain gauge is quite different from the standard gauge. The receiving funnel leads to one of two small buckets. Filling of one bucket occurs at one-hundredth of an inch. The result is a “tipping” of the liquid into the outer shell of the gauge, triggering the second bucket to take its place. The process then repeats itself, allowing for precise measurement of rainfall intensity and amount. This gauge has become standard for wireless weather stations.
The Weighing Rain Gauge
The universal weighing rain gauge is optimal for climatology use. This is because of a vacuum that accounts for the effects of wind, allowing more rain to enter the gauge. These gauges are very precise in measuring rainfall intensity as the weighing mechanism at the bottom of the collector can be used to measure depth and time simultaneously. Recording is carried out much in the same way as the older versions of the tipping bucket gauges.
If you are interested in purchasing a rain gauge of your own, take a look through Maximum’s selection of rainfall instruments today. Or, if you have a question for a member of our team, be sure to contact us for more information.
Your explanation of a standard (funnel) gauge should say funnel AREA (not DIAMETER) is 10 times that of the tube. You might mention which types are able to yield rainfall intensity measures-(e.g. in mm)/min as well as ‘cumulative rainfall since last reset’.(mm)
Thank you for this informative article about the different types of rain gauges and how they work. It’s fascinating to learn about the various methods used to measure rainfall accurately. This knowledge provides a deeper understanding of meteorology and the technology behind weather measurement. Your article has certainly increased my appreciation for the precision and innovation involved in tracking rainfall.