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Rain 1
Rain 1
Rain 1
Cover Story
K.V. BALASUBRAMANIAN
Measuring rainfall forms a very important input for the economic planning of
the country. But there is a whole lot of scientific work and periodic
maintenance that goes into making this activity a reality.
2% is available frozen in ice caps. Deep History of Rainfall
ground water accounts for 0.31%. The Measurement
remaining 0.69% of water is only The modern history of rainfall
available for the humanity. The main recording and measurement is related
source of this small amount of water is to the history of the Meteorological
precipitation in the form of rain or Department in India. The
snow. So, measurement of this meteorological observations,
precipitation (rainfall/snowfall) including rainfall, were recorded from
becomes absolutely necessary since it 1793 onwards at the Madras
forms a very important input for the Observatory (at Nungambakkam,
W
HEN the first showers of economic planning of a country. Chennai). Similar observations were
the monsoon give In a country like India virtually taken at Simla from 1840, at Colaba
respite from the the entire economy tends to depend on (Mumbai) from 1841, at Doddapetta
sweltering heat, the first the arrival of the monsoon and small (Nilgiris) from 1847 and at Kolkatta
thing you do is smell the earthy flavour farmers rely on rains to irrigate their from 1853.
wafting through to your nose. You fields. It becomes necessary, therefore, In the middle of the 19th century,
might also want to catch a few drops to be able to calculate the amount governments at the state level
on your palm or perhaps get drenched of rain received in a particular season established rain gauges under the state
in the pouring rain. But why would or year and relate it to economic revenue departments. The damages
someone want to measure the rainfall? parameters. Subsequently projections caused by severe cyclone that crossed
Is it important? of expected rainfall and the consequent near Machilipatnam coast during
Well, the oceans hold 97% of the impact on the economy are worked October 1864 were instrumental in the
earth’s water (which is saline), while out. efforts of the British to establish an
50 cm
and receiver are fitted
into a base that has a
locking arrangement.
The rain gauge is
Measuring tube installed in leveled
The instrument cement platform so that
20 cm the gunmetal rim is at a
used for the height of one foot above the ground to
measurement of rainfall is called a rain gauge avoid splashing of water.
The rainfall collected in the
collector is measured daily at 0830
Also, based on accumulated other types of Observatories of IMD hours IST with a measure glass. The
rainfall for 24 hours, if the amount is (48) (numbers as on 01.01.1994). Apart size of the measuring cylinder is in
more than 6.5 cm and up to 12.5 cm it is from the above, some more rain gauges proportion of the area of the funnel
classified as heavy rainfall. If the are maintained by other agencies for exposed. The cross sectional area of
amount of rainfall is more than 12.5 their specific projects. the measuring glass is taken as 1/10th
cm then it is classified as very heavy The different types of rain gauges cross sectional area of the receiving
rainfall (see Table 2). can be broadly classified into Non- funnel. Therefore, 10 times
recording rain gauges and Recording magnification is obtained. One full
Rain Gauge Network rain gauges. measure glass contains 1.25 cm of rain
A rain gauge is an instrument used by or 0.5-inch rain. The measure glass has
meteorologists and hydrologists to Non-recording rain gauges 50 divisions. It can measure as low as
1. Symons’s 5" simple rain gauge: It is 0.01 inch or 0.025 cm or 0.25 mm of
collect and measure the amount of
made of galvanized iron sheet of 12- rainfall.
liquid precipitation. There are about
8,000 rain gauges in India at present. gauge thickness. It consists of a) Base,
2. FRP rain gauge: Symons’s rain gauge
These are available in the Surface b) Body, c) Receiver, d) Funnel and e)
was the standard rain gauge of India
Observatories of the IMD (557), Hydro- Measure Glass.
Meteorological Department. Since
meteorological Observatories of IMD The outer diameter of the funnel is
(622), Non-IMD rain gauge stations 5 inches or 12.7 cm. The outer
peripheral ring is made of gunmetal (a A Digital Rainfall Recorder consisting of a weatherproof
under various schemes (but data
kind of bronze formerly used enclosure with a data logger and power supply, solar
received by IMD) (4946), Agro-
panel, tripod stand and a tipping bucket type rain
meteorological Observatories (424), for making cannons) and is called
gauge sensor.
Pilot Balloon observatories of IMD and rim.
Some
modern rain
gauges
4. Exact beginning, cessation and or centimeters of rain and time on the onto one of two small buckets or
duration of rainfall other axis. The graph paper is fitted on levers, which is balanced in the same
The following types of recording the clock driven drum. The Ferguson manner as a scale (or child’s seesaw).
rain gauges are popular: rain gauge is a example of this type. After an amount of precipitation equal
1. Weighing rain gauge: In this, the weight This rain gauge can also be used to to 0.2 mm (0.007 in) falls, the lever tips
of the water or snow during measure snowfall. and an electrical signal is sent to the
precipitation moves a platform recorder. The recorder consists of a
downward. The platform is arranged 2. Tipping bucket rain gauge: The tipping pen mounted on an arm attached to a
on a spring balance. The downward bucket rain gauge consists of a large geared wheel that moves once with
movement of the platform is fed to a copper cylinder set into the ground. each signal sent from the collector.
pen-and-ink arrangement by lever. At the top of the cylinder is a funnel When the wheel turns the pen arm
The pen makes marking on the graph that collects and channels the moves either up or down leaving a
paper graduated on one axis in inches precipitation. The precipitation falls trace on the graph and at the same time
making a loud click. Each jump of the
arm is sometimes referred to as a
Make Your Rain Gauge ‘click’ in reference to the noise. The
chart is measured in 10-minute periods
1. Place the jar on a flat, level surface. (vertical lines) and 0.4 mm (0.015 in)
Place a measuring device, such as a Things you will need (horizontal lines), rotates once every
ruler, into the bottom of the jar. This Wide-mouth glass jar 24 hours, and is powered by a
will account for the thickness of the jar Permanent marker or glass paint clockwork motor that must be
bottom. Ruler, tape measure or yard stick manually wound.
2. Mark the outside of the jar at the The tipping bucket rain gauge is
Metal clothes hanger
desired intervals, such as 1/4 or 1/2 not as accurate as the standard rain
inch, using a waterproof permanent
Pliers gauge because the rainfall may stop
marker or glass paint. Wire snips before the lever has tipped. When the
3. Straighten out a metal hanger using next period of rain begins, it may take
pliers. Wire strips might be necessary no more than one or two drops to tip
to snip off the tightly curled end of the hanger that wraps around the “neck” of the the lever. This would then indicate that
hanger. 0.2 mm (0.007 in) has fallen when in
4. Coil the hanger snugly around the glass jar, starting at the bottom and winding fact only a minute amount has. The
up to the middle or top third of the jar. The wire does not have to be tightly advantage of the tipping bucket rain
coiled. The hanger will act as a holder for the jar. Leave several inches of the gauge is that the character of the rain
wire straight at one end. (light, medium or heavy) may be easily
5. Find a level area in the yard and poke the straight end of the wire into the ground obtained.
to secure the rain gauge jar. Alternatively, bend the straight end of the wire into a Rainfall character is decided by the
hook and hang it on a wall. When it rains, check the gauge to see how many total amount of rain that has fallen in a
inches fell. set period (usually 1 hour) and by
counting the number of ‘clicks’ in a 10- is common to place two independent when the float chamber is full and
minute period the observer can decide gauges side by side, so that errors can empties the float chamber making it
the character of the rain. Modern be quickly detected and corrected. ready for the next recording.
tipping rain gauges consist of a plastic So, the next time you come across
collector balanced over a pivot. When 3. Natural siphoning float type self- statements in television, radio, or
it tips, it actuates a switch (such as a recording rain gauge (SRRG): It is widely newspapers such as: ‘Chennai recorded 3
reed switch) which is then used in observatories of IMD and is a cm of rainfall’, ‘The normal rainfall of this
electronically recorded or transmitted very useful instrument. It is made of year will be around 100 cm’, remember, a
to a remote collection station. galvanized iron sheet of 12 gauge or of lot of scientific work has gone in before
The tipping bucket rain gauge is FRP (Fiber glass reinforced polyesters) the small amount of rainfall could be
especially good at measuring light-to- body most preferably being non- worked out.
medium rainfall. During a very light rusting. There are a number of steps
shower, rain collected in a bucket The funnel here acts as a lid and is involved such as deciding the number
might not be sufficient to tip it and provided with a slit or window of rain gauges in an area, selecting the
could evaporate before more quantity through which recording chart can be site for installation, actual installation,
of rainfall is added. During occurrence observed from outside. The rainwater measuring the rainfall accurately and
of very heavy rain events, such as collected by the funnel is poured into a reporting the same in real time,
thunderstorms, water may continue to float chamber through a filter. The float sending the statistics every month,
pour into the bucket while it is chamber is a cylindrical vessel with analysis and determination of
emptying, before the next bucket light hollow copper or plastic float statistical parameters etc. Further,
moves into place. As a result, the inside. The upper side of the float is periodic inspection, maintenance and
tipping bucket rain gauge connected with a float rod. The other replacement of defective rain gauges
underestimates the rainfall. end of the float rod is attached with a is a continuing process.
Failure can also result from the pen arm, which moves on a graph
tipping mechanism getting jammed, paper wrapped around the clock-driven
often by a spider’s web. In addition, rotating drum. The clock makes one Mr K.V. Balasubramanian is Assistant Meteorologist
hail, snow, birds’ nests, insects, spiders’ rotation in 24 hours. A special device at the Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai.
webs, and leaves may block the funnel, for siphoning is provided in the float Address: No. 4225, D-2 Block, KKR Town,
leading to overflow. For this reason, it chamber, which operates automatically Madhavaram High Road, Chennai-60