N96FY - self emptying rain gauge
Posted: Mon 14 Oct 2013 5:08 pm
That's what it says on the box. How does it do this, and when, please?
It's a 'tipping bucket' gauge, like most of those with automatic weather stations. It has a 'see-saw' inside it, with a 'cup' or 'bucket' at each end. The bucket at one end fills up with water, until it tips over and empties, and an amount of rain is recorded - 0.3 mm in the case of Fine Offset stations. This brings the opposite bucket into line with the collector, that starts filling up, and the cycle repeats. So it is constantly filling and emptying.
There are pictures in the forum somewhere, if my explanation wasn't helpful.