Instrumentation - Double-Traversing Weighing Rain Gauge

This is the weighing rain gauge. Inside is a continuous graph which records rainfall time and intensity over a 24-hour period. The red and white panels act as wind barriers thus allowing precipitation to fall relatively unhampered into the mouth of the gauge.

The red and white windshield is designed to quiet air directly above collector funnel to allow precipitation to fall relatively vertically into the collector funnel; Collector Funnel is 14" in diameter; below collector is catch bucket; Rain water fills in the bucket. This water has a weight which causes the scale to depress.

The scale is connected to a pen arm which rises as the scale lowers at a rate equivalent to rainfall intensity. The pen arm records time of occurrence and intensity of precipitation on graph paper (accurate to 1mm of precipitation). The graph paper is able to hold up to 24 hours of continuous precipitation data.

Any increase (in the ascent of the ink line) indicates precipitation occurrence. If this ascent ends and the ink line remains level, this indicates a "dry period" during the storm system. The motor must be manually reset every 7 days by hand cranking a handle connected to a spring-loaded motor.