What Is the Rain Gauge Used For?

A rain gauge basically collects water falling on it and records the change over time in the rainfall depth, which is usually expressed in mm. You can get much more detailed information with disdrometers.

What Is the Rain Gauge Used For?

A rain gauge is an instrument used to measure the amount of liquid precipitation over a set period of time. The most common type of rain gauge is the tipping bucket rain gauge, which consists of a funnel that collects rainwater and funnels it into a measuring container.

The container is attached to a see–saw like mechanism that tips when a certain amount of rain has been collected. This type of rain gauge is often used in weather stations.

Other types of rain gauges include the weighing rain gauge and the graduated cylinder rain gauge. The weighing rain gauge consists of a container that is attached to a set of scales.

As rainwater collects in the container, the weight of the water is measured on the scales. The graduated cylinder rain gauge consists of a graduated cylinder that is placed in a container of water.

The water level in the cylinder rises as rainwater collects in the container. The amount of precipitation can be determined by reading the water level in the cylinder.

Rain gauges are important tools for meteorologists and weather enthusiasts. They help to measure the amount of rainfall in an area, which can be used to track weather patterns and forecast future weather conditions.