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RAIN

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rain: Rain Gauge

A rain gauge (RAIN) gathers and measures the amount of liquid precipitation over a set period of time. ARM uses many types of rain gauges at its climate research facilities.

The tipping bucket rain gauge consists of a funnel that collects and directs precipitation into a seesaw container that tips after a pre-set amount of liquid enters. When the seesaw tips, it sends an electrical signal that is counted by a recording device.

The weighing precipitation gauge consists of a storage container, which is weighted to record the mass of precipitation. Some models measure the mass of precipitation using a pen on a rotating drum or by using a vibrating wire attached to a data logger. The advantage of this type of rain gauge is that it can measure all forms of precipitation.

Disdrometers are used with rain gauges to add details about the precipitation being gathered. They are capable of measuring the velocity and size distribution of precipitation, measurements important for studying the evolution of water droplets.

Measurements

Precipitation

Locations

  • Fixed
  • AMF1
  • AMF2
  • AMF3

Related Publications

2018

Pei B and F Testik. 2018. "A Regression-Free Rainfall Estimation Algorithm for Dual-Polarization Radars." Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 35(8), 10.1175/JTECH-D-17-0201.1.

Zhuang Y, R Fu, and H Wang. 2018. "How do environmental conditions influence vertical buoyancy structure and shallow-to-deep convection transition across different climate regimes?" Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 75(6), 10.1175/JAS-D-17-0284.1.

2016

Giangrande SE, T Toto, MP Jensen, M Bartholomew, Z Feng, A Protat, C Williams, C Schumacher, and L Machado. 2016. "Convective cloud vertical velocity and mass-flux characteristics from radar wind profiler observations during GoAmazon2014/5." Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 121(21), 10.1002/2016jd025303. ONLINE.
Research Highlight

Schiro KA, JD Neelin, DK Adams, and BR Lintner. 2016. "Deep Convection and Column Water Vapor over Tropical Land versus Tropical Ocean: A Comparison between the Amazon and the Tropical Western Pacific." Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, 73(10), 10.1175/jas-d-16-0119.1.

Bartholomew MJ. 2016. Rain Gauge Instrument Handbook. Ed. by Robert Stafford, ARM Climate Research Facility. DOE/SC-ARM-TR-110.

2015

Rauniyar SP and KJ Walsh. 2015. "Spatial and temporal variations in rainfall over Darwin and its vicinity during different large-scale environments." Climate Dynamics, 46(3-4), 10.1007/s00382-015-2606-1.

Mechem DB, SE Giangrande, CS Wittman, P Borque, T Toto, and P Kollias. 2015. "Insights from modeling and observational evaluation of a precipitating continental cumulus event observed during the Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment field campaign." Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 120(5), 10.1002/2014jd022255.
Research Highlight

2014

Deng M, P Kollias, Z Feng, C Zhang, CN Long, H Kalesse, A Chandra, VV Kumar, and A Protat. 2014. "Stratiform and Convective Precipitation Observed by Multiple Radars during the DYNAMO/AMIE Experiment." Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 53(11), 10.1175/jamc-d-13-0311.1.

Yano J and TP Lane. 2014. "Convectively generated gravity waves simulated by NAM-SCA." Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 119(15), 10.1002/2013jd021419.

Giangrande SE, M Bartholomew, M Pope, S Collis, and MP Jensen. 2014. "A Summary of Precipitation Characteristics from the 2006-2011 Northern Australian Wet Seasons as Revealed by ARM Disdrometer Research Facilities (Darwin, Australia)." Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 53, 10.1175/jamc-d-13-0222.1.
Research Highlight

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