Emmanuel Luisito M. Olao Jr. Diczen E. Maitim ABE 1 U 2L EXERCISE 1 Agrometeorological Practices and Observations A. Questions 1.

. Give the functions of: A. A meteorological station A meteorological station or commonly known as weather station is a facility, either on land or sea, with instruments and equipment for observing atmospheric conditions to provide information for weather forecasts and to study the weather and climate. The measurements taken include temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and precipitation amounts. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_station)

B. An agrometeorological station An agrometeorology station has been designed to allow farmers, agronomists, and researchers to monitor most of the conditions that affect plant health. The station comprises 8 sensors for measuring wind speed, wind direction, air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, soil temperature, surface wetness, and rainfall. The station is supplied fully configured and ready to operate together with 2 metre mast and data transfer software. (http://www.wagtechprojects.com/products/Agrometeorological-Station.html)

C. A hydrometeorological station A hydrometeorological station is an institution that conducts meteorological and hydrological observations of weather conditions and the condition of oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, and marshes. Depending on their tasks, hydrometeorological stations are classified as continental, marine, river, lake, and marsh stations. Observations are made under a unified program according to a schedule. Hydrometeorological stations exist in all large cities, at airports, and in remote and hard-to-reach areas. For example, in the USSR the basic network of hydrometeorological stations is part of the Hydrometeorological Service of the USSR. (The

Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved; http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Hydrometeorological+Station) 2. What time of the day is the measurement of rainfall, evaporation and other parameters done at the NAS? Explain the logic behind this practice. How do they determine the daily rainfall and evaporation? The National Agrometeorological Station does their measurement of rainfall, evaporation and other parameters at 8AM and 2PM. The logic behind this practice was based on the time zone of which the country is situated. In the case of the Philippines, is categorized at Greeenwich Mean Time +8 (GMT +8) along with other countries like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Medan. GMT+8 Standard Time is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+8). That is why NAS based their time of measurement at 8AM. The 2PM data collection at NAS was based on the lag time between when the sunlight is most intense and when the air temperature is highest. On the average the hottest time of the day tends to be around 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. NAS determine the daily rainfall and evaporation by using standard rain gauge and evaporation pans, respectively. (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080608181143AA9Zb1v; http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/gmt-plus-8/) 3. Why does rainfall measurement expressed in terms of depth and not by volume? The total amount of rainfall over a given period is expressed as the depth of water which would cover a horizontal area if there is no runoff, infiltration and evaporation. This depth is generally expressed in millimetres. According to NAS facilitator, rainfall measurement is expressed in terms of depth and not by volume is for convenience and solving for volume would take time. (http://www.fao.org/docrep/t7202e/t7202e09.htm) 4. Why are evaporation measurements in Class A evaporation pans made in a still well and not in the pan itself? The evaporation measurements in Class A evaporation pans made in a still well and not in the pan itself because ambient or outside factors may affect the correct measurement. A standard Class A evaporation pan has a cylinder with a diameter of 47.5 inches and a depth of 10 inches (25 cm). The evaporation pan is installed on a wooden support, which is levelled on the ground location away from bushes, trees and other obstacles which obstruct a natural air flow around the pan, thus representing open water in an open area. The measurement is done

at the still well because it is not affected by the rippling of the water surface when there is wind. (http://www.kean.edu/~csmart/Hydrology/Lectures/Evaporation_pan.pdf)

B. Enumerate the different meteorological instrument found in NAS and give their functions (in table form) Meteorological Instrument Mercurial Barometer Microbarograph Wind Indicator Tipping Bucket Recording Rain Gauge 8 inch Standard Rain Gauge Floating Evaporation Pan 3 Cup Anemometer Aerovane Bimetallic Actinograph Campbell-Stokes Lightning Instrument Instrument Shelter a. Minimum and Maximum Thermometer b. Sling Psychrometer c. Hygrothermograph Lightning rod Functions measure atmospheric pressure measure atmospheric pressure measure wind speed and wind direction measure the rate, depth and amount of rainfall measure depth and amount of rainfall measure the amount of evaporation measure wind speed measure both wind speed and direction measure solar radiation (total electromagnetic radiation from the sun) measure sunshine duration and the total minutes of bright sunshine measure the intensity of lightning (even from 2km from the lightning) measure the lowest and highest temperature respectively measure relative humidity measure temperature and relative humidity directs/protect the building in the event of lightning strike, intercepts the lightning

C. 1. Empty cylindrical cans can be used to measure the rainfall at any point in a given area. (a) Assuming you used a 10 cm diameter receiving can to catch rainfall in your locality and poured the collected amount in another can, what should be the diameter of the measuring can (in cm) so that rainfall amount recorded is comparable to the amount collected using a standard raingauge? (b) if a 5 mm of rain was collected in the receiving can, what is the equivalent depth in the measuring can?

2. On the following days, the following observations were taken: Time 8 Standard Raingauge Readings (mm) 6.2 8.1 13.4 5.6 Evaporation Pan Hookgauge readings (mm) 81.4 79.6 83.5 79.5

June 11 June 12 Determine in mm: a. total rainfall for June 11

8 AM 2 PM 8 AM 2 PM

b. total pan evaporation for June 11

c. total rainfall from 2PM June 11 to 2PM June 12 d. total pan evaporation from 2PM June 11 to 2PM June 12