how to make a rain gauge with a mason jar

1. How do you make a simple rain gauge?
2. What materials do you need to make a rain gauge?
3. How do you make a weather gauge?
4. Where should rain gauge be?
5. How is rain gauge calculated?
6. Does the size of a rain gauge matter?
7. Who invented rain gauge?
8. How do you calibrate a rain gauge?
9. How does a rain gauge work?
10. How wide should a rain gauge be?
11. Why is rain gauge placed below the ground?
12. Can you use a 5 gallon bucket for a rain gauge?
13. How deep should a rain gauge be placed under the ground?
14. What does 1mm of rain look like?
15. How many types of rain gauges are there?
16. Are rain gauges accurate?

How do you make a simple rain gauge?

Making a Rain Gauge

1. Cut the top section off a clear bottle as shown. ...
2. Place several small rocks in the bottom (for weight), then fill the bottle with water to the 0 mark. ...
3. Invert the top of the bottle into to rain gauge to act as a funnel. ...
4. Wait for the next rain and observe and record rainfall amounts.

What materials do you need to make a rain gauge?

Materials:

1. Empty two-liter plastic bottle.
2. Scissors.
3. A few handfuls of clean pebbles, gravel, or marbles.
4. Masking tape.
5. Water.
6. Ruler.
7. Permanent marker.
8. Rainy weather.

How do you make a weather gauge?

Make a scale in centimetres on a piece of tape, using a ruler, and fix it to the side of your bottle. Find a place outside to put your rain gauge. It must be open and away from trees. Dig a hole and bury your rain gauge so that the top is sticking out of the ground.

Where should rain gauge be?

Rain gauges should be placed in an open area where there are no buildings, trees, or other obstacles to block the rain. This is also to prevent the water collected on the roofs of buildings or the leaves of trees from dripping into the rain gauge after a rain, resulting in inaccurate readings.

How is rain gauge calculated?

Here's what you'll need to do:

1. Measure the diameter of the bucket at the level of the rain. ...
2. Measure the diameter of the bucket at the bottom in the same way.
3. Calculate the average of the two diameters.
4. Divide by two to find the average radius.
5. Find the average volume of rain = Depth x radius x radius x 3.14.

Does the size of a rain gauge matter?

What is the size of a rain gauge? It doesn't matter because it is not the volume but the height of the water we measure. For example, on a yearly average, all oceans, lakes, outdoor swimming pools and rain gauges increase by nearly one meter! Click to see full answer.

Who invented rain gauge?

Rain gauges are one of the most ancient weather instruments. The ancient Greeks and people in India were the first known to keep rainfall records, about 400–500 BC. In 1441, Korea invented the first standardised rain gauge, the Cheugugi.

How do you calibrate a rain gauge?

Make a pinhole in the bottom of a plastic cup. Hold the cup over the rain gauge and fill it with exactly 1 cup (8 oz.) of water, allowing the water to slowly drip into the rain gauge. You should hear the internal buckets tip and see the water drain through the rain gauge.

How does a rain gauge work?

A rain gauge is really just a cylinder that catches rain. If an inch collects in the cylinder, it means an inch of rain has fallen. It's that simple. Most standard rain gauges have a wide funnel leading into the cylinder and are calibrated so that one-tenth of an inch of rain measures one inch when it collects inside.

How wide should a rain gauge be?

The 20 inch gauge is the norm throughout the National Weather Service. However, other agencies like the U.S. Forest Service often use the smaller gauge. The inner measuring tube of the large NWS gauge holds 2.0 inches of precipitation.

Why is rain gauge placed below the ground?

It is an instrument used for determining the depth of precipitation that occurs over a unit area. Thus, it measures rainfall. ... For the measurement of rainfall, the rain gauze should be placed 30 cm above the ground to prevent the splashing of rainwater.

Can you use a 5 gallon bucket for a rain gauge?

5 gallons is about 2/3 of a cubic foot, and 2 inches is 1/6 of a foot. 2/3 cubic feet divided by 1/6 feet is 4 square feet, so 2 inches of rain falling over an area of 4 square feet is enough to fill a 5-gallon bucket.

How deep should a rain gauge be placed under the ground?

In open areas place the gauge top approx. 2 feet off the ground. In developed areas place the gauge top approx. 5 feet off the ground.

What does 1mm of rain look like?

1mm rain over two hours is barely a mist. It means rain caught in a measuring device will pool up to a height of 1mm. In 5 minutes for 1mm to fall things will get wet. Generally the sidewalks or road may get wet and in a dry climate be dry in half an hours or less.

How many types of rain gauges are there?

The three major types of rain gauges are the standard gauge, tipping bucket gauge and weighing gauge.

Are rain gauges accurate?

Rainwise tipping bucket rain gauges have an accuracy rating of 2% at 1.5” per hour. ... The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) weather observer network, uses manual rain gauges with an 8 inch diameter opening. These are considered the most accurate, but are also more expensive.