An Automatic Recording Raingage Network for a Cloud-Seeding Experiment

D. A. Parkin Division of Cloud Physics, CSIRO, Sydney, Australia

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W. D. King Division of Cloud Physics, CSIRO, Sydney, Australia

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D. E. Shaw Division of Mathematics and Statistics, CSIRO, Sydney, Australia

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Abstract

The CSIRO Division of Cloud Physics has designed and built 103 automatic recording raingages, at a cost of about $US600 each, for use in a cloud-seeding experiment. Each unit consists of a siphoned tipping bucket interfaced to a monophonic cassette tape recorder. The raingages have a resolution of 0.2 mm, and this can be recorded to an accuracy of ∼2 s. Each tape can store 3000 tip events, and with a battery drain of 500 μA the units can be left unattended in the field for many months. Experience with the network has shown that ∼6% of the units have failed when left unattended for 4½ months. Some examples of the type and quality of the data that can be obtained from such a network are presented.

Abstract

The CSIRO Division of Cloud Physics has designed and built 103 automatic recording raingages, at a cost of about $US600 each, for use in a cloud-seeding experiment. Each unit consists of a siphoned tipping bucket interfaced to a monophonic cassette tape recorder. The raingages have a resolution of 0.2 mm, and this can be recorded to an accuracy of ∼2 s. Each tape can store 3000 tip events, and with a battery drain of 500 μA the units can be left unattended in the field for many months. Experience with the network has shown that ∼6% of the units have failed when left unattended for 4½ months. Some examples of the type and quality of the data that can be obtained from such a network are presented.

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