Rain gauge
Also called: Udometer, Pluviometer · Topic: Water in the Atmosphere: Humidity, Condensation, Clouds and Precipitation · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 2 "Understanding the Weather"
Meaning
A rain gauge is the instrument used to measure rainfall. Rain falls through a funnel into a collecting cylinder, and the depth of water is read in millimetres. It must be placed on open, level, raised ground, away from buildings and trees, so that nothing blocks or adds to the rain it catches. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports rainfall for the 24 hours ending at 0830 IST each day.
Example
Rain gauges record the yearly rainfall at Mawsynram in Meghalaya, north-east India. It is about 11,000–12,000 mm, among the highest in the world.
Don't confuse with
- Hygrometer: measures humidity, the water vapour in the air. A rain gauge measures the rain that has actually fallen.