EFFECT OF HOUSING SHAPE ON THE CATCH OF RECORDING GAGES

Abstract

The reduction in catch due to the shape of the housing of the U.S. Weather Bureau standard recording gage was explored using data from Weather Bureau stations with both recording and nonrecording gages, a gaging site which included both a standard nonrecording gage and a Stevens recording gage, and gages on the East Central Raingage Network. It was found that, on the average, the standard 8.0-in. diameter orifice recording gage caught 2.5 to 6 percent less rain than the nonrecording gage and 2.5 percent less rain than the recording gage fitted with a 12-in. diameter orifice. The Stevens recording gage caught 5.5 percent less rain than the nonrecording gage. It is concluded that proximity of a sloping portion of the gage housing on the 8-in. diameter orifice recording gages is responsible for the catch reduction.