Researchers at Chilbolton have set up a suite of rain gauges at the Observatory. The suite includes:
- RAL Rapid Response Drop Counting rain gauges
- a Joss RD-69 Impact Disdrometer
- a RW Munro 0.2mm Tipping Bucket rain gauge
To see daily results from the raingauges and to find out more about the meteorological suite at Chilbolton, visit the Chilbolton weather web.
Data from the raingauges can be accessed at the British Atmospheric Data Centre
By comparing accurate rain gauge rainfall data with the rain rates measured by the radar, researchers can determine how close the radar measurements are to the real rates. Traditionally, radar reflectivity is used to find out rainfall rates. However, polarisation parameters such as differential reflectivity and differential propagation phase hold great promise for determining rainfall rates with much better accuracy.
The rapid response drop counting rain gauges used have been designed and built at RAL. The technique they use of counting accurately formed drops provides a much higher resolution than the tipping-bucket type gauge, particularly in light rain.
