Do you wonder how the tipping bucket rain gauge works? Are you about to make your own? Take note that you can actually create a personalized rainfall measuring device. In fact, students can make their own innovation and have fun learning about the weather or predict the kind of weather in a certain locale. Schools conduct experiments such as this for the purpose of educating the learners and showing them how this instrument works. More so, even when it doesn’t have any connection with school or any form of study, you can create your own instrument to measure the precipitation or rainfall in your area at a specific period of time.
How to Maximize the Advantages of the Tipping Bucket Rain Gauge
The purpose of your experiment is nonetheless going to be defeated if you are unable to derive the most accurate readings. After all, what you probably want is to get the best results from your instrument. How can you achieve this? Well, all that you need to do is to pay attention to the proper installation of the instrument!
Here are the vital insights on how you can do it.
Don’t forget that your rain gauge should be placed on a flat surface. Remember that the bucket is positioned on a balance just like the see-saw. Hence, if the instrument doesn’t lie on a flat surface, the see-saw-like balance may tip even before the bucket gets filled up to the calibrated level of water. Or worse, it may never tip at all. Therefore, if the bucket fails to tip according to the specified level, the results will be inaccurate.
To ensure that the surface is indeed flat, you can use a spirit level. After which, position the rain gauge onto the flat surface to be assured that what you are deriving is none other than a precise reading and result.
Never ever place the instrument on a surface which vibrates. Fences or porches often vibrate so refrain from positioning the tipping bucket in these places. This kind of instrument can be really sensitive so any minute vibrations may cause it to tip even in the absence of rainwater.
Don’t place the instrument near the trees. Pollens or leaves may fall to the funnel and then cause the blockage. If this happens, you will often get inaccurate readings.
It should not be kept in a sheltered area. Putting it on a fence or beside the house can vitally decrease or increase the total amount of rain according to the wind direction. Thus, you can’t trust that you will be able to get a precise reading data.
Position the gauge at least twice as far away from any object. The reason for such is because the object’s height may hinder the rainwater from getting into the funnel.
Furthermore, don’t make the mistake of putting your weather equipment near any iron, steel, or magnetic objects. These materials can significantly affect the quantity of time that the magnet can hold the bucket. Again, it will cause a very inaccurate reading.
Take note of all these things so that you will get the best results out of your personal tipping bucket rain gauge. As you see, your goal is to get the precise reading to be able to know the total amount of precipitation in your area at a given time.