How to Measure Rain and Precipitation With a Rain Gauge

A rain gauge measures rainfall as it happens. It does this through a straightforward method. All it takes is one person in the right place at the right time to record the rainfall. Such an event may occur any time of the year. For example, it can be the beginning of the school year’s end or the beginning of a holiday period.

 

The first step in recording the rainfall is to make a simple cylinder or tube with a hole at the bottom. This kind of container is called a “rain gauge.” A rain gauge can be made from plastic tubing that you can buy at your local hardware store, or you can make one yourself. Most people make their rain gauges by using hollow tubes or bottles. There are various ways in which you can get such a container.

 

You could make a tube or bottle using a hose length or a cylinder made of a thick material like a wooden or metal pipe. Once you have completed the container, you should leave it out in the sun for a few days to get hot. When the temperature goes up to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you should put the hose or cylinder into the sun to get an accurate rainfall measurement. On reaching the temperature, your measurements should be known by the local weather service office.

 

Many meteorologists use rain gauges to measure precipitation. Usually, they do this when they are carrying out research work that involves tracking the movement and speed of the clouds in the sky. These meteorologists use a specially designed instrument called a weather gauge to measure the rain gauges results. This instrument is named a weather tube or rain gauge.

 

The other method to measure rainfall depth is to use a particular type of funnel. This precipitation dispenser instrument has two sets of flexible tubes with a single flexible hose connected to them. A well-established procedure is followed in which the measurement is taken on the long side of the line while the hose is attached to a piece of flexible tube on the short side. This measurement is known as the hypsometric measurement. Once the hose is attached to the line, measuring the rainfall depth is known. The measurement is usually done at a high altitude.

 

All the above procedures need to be performed only once. If you want to do them again, you need to remove one bucket from the storage area. It is essential to place the rain gauge in the proper location to find the right location for the other bucket. Most meteorologists suggest that the best place is above the area where there is a strong possibility of a tree falling.