So....how much rain did I get? OT

JerryS · Mar 16, 2015

All the rain gauges I've ever had or seen were
clear cylinders marked off in inch and/or metric
increments. A measured inch on the gauge
represented an inch of rain. Other gauges I've
seen were tapered, so the markings were graduated
accordingly.

For Christmas someone gave me this gauge--a
straight-sided cylinder. However, a standing
inch of water in the cylinder is only about 3/4
inch of rain, according to the gauge. Ten inches
of standing water in the gauge is shown in the
calibration as being only 8 inches. Is this
right? Is this one of those pie-are-square
things?

Bob · Mar 16, 2015

Is the diameter of the "mouth" different than the ID of the clear tube?

FBH44 · Mar 16, 2015

I use a tomato can, look inside and see how much rain. Green beans would also work.

gtractorfan · Mar 16, 2015

An import made to look like the real thing but not? Real guess is some kind of top catches more than the tube's diameter as someone said. There are big versions that really amplify this.

Traditional Farmer · Mar 16, 2015

A Fisherman's rain gauge?

Nebraska Cowman · Mar 16, 2015

It would need to be calibrated to the size of the opening where the rain falls in.

Chris(WA) · Mar 16, 2015

Pie are round! If'en they are square, they are a cobbler!

showcrop · Mar 16, 2015

I googled "rain gauge standard" and it explains the NOAA standard specs for a proper rain gauge. I know a few people who always get more snow, more rain, colder lows, higher hottest temp and stronger winds. I think that I will get attach the funnel from my new pressure pot sand blaster to the top of my rain gauge before the next rain event so that I can top them.

Dachshund · Mar 16, 2015

The rain guage is not a "linier" measurement like the ruler.....you need to take into account the volume of the cylinder.

paul · Mar 16, 2015

This is the new approved design to capture 'global warming rain events' so we can properly see how badly global warming is affecting us all?

Paul

Goose · Mar 16, 2015

I thought they was cornbread.

rd 2N in mo · Mar 16, 2015

pie are round, cornbread are square

tuna can in the garden works best for me

Chris Jones · Mar 16, 2015

Yea, I have some family member like that.

JRSutton · Mar 16, 2015

No the diameter makes no difference. An inch of rain is an inch of rain - regardless of how wide the area. An inch of rain is one inch in a 1/2" diameter pipe, and one inch in a swimming pool.

But looking at the diameter of that tube, I'd assume it has a wider funnel type of top to get a more accurate reading. THAT would require altering the scale, because you're collecting from a wide area and putting it all into a narrow area- that's give you a scale like you see on yours.

Of course - if the top is narrow - the probability of rain getting in is lower, skewing the measurement. It COULD be they factored this in - but that's very unlikely.

If you don't have a wider top - I'd guess you're missing a part.

Mike M · Mar 16, 2015

Thermometer broke , rain gauge broke haven't replaced either because in the end there is not anything I can do to change the outcome, so what does it really matter ?

Wheatfarmer · Mar 16, 2015

When is comes to farming, get a good rain gauge. Approx 4 to 1. 1" in the inter tub = 0.10" rain. you can read it to a 0.01"

JerryS · Mar 16, 2015

JRSutton, I think you may have come up with the right answer. I don't remember there being a big mouth in the box, but there probably was or should have been.

JRSutton · Mar 16, 2015

You COULD figure out mathematically how wide the top is supposed to be...

the percentage based on 1 scale inch vs. the difference to 1 real inch - then take the area of the tube opening and multiply it by that same percentage...

Then make something - maybe out of pvc fittings if you can find something of the right diameter...

... of course, you could also just buy a new rain gauge, but that's not nearly as much fun as spending twice as much to fix an old one.

Fullers Farmalls · Mar 16, 2015

That is a rain gauge used for calling tenths of a foot. Its how most scientific companies measure rainfall. The company i work for uses ones similar to that. They are great to use.

john in la · Mar 16, 2015

Fullers Farmalls has it right. That gauge is in tenths of a foot.

You said a inch of water reads 3/4 inch
10 inches of water reads 8 inches

Where it really is 1 inch of water is really 0.08 feet. 0.08 would look real close to 3/4
and 10 inches is really 0.83 feet. 0.83 would look like 8
Inches to Decimal Feet Conversion Table

So....how much rain did I get? OT

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