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Can you trust your rainfall data?
As you may or may not be aware, tipping bucket rain gauges are known for under registering rainfall at higher rainfall intensities.  Please note that a non-syphoning TBRG (most gauges) will generally always under-register as the rainfall intensity increases above the datum set point value (calibration point) and will over-register as the rainfall intensity decreases below the set point value.

In some cases these errors can be more than: 
  • 4% at 3 inches/hr  (75 mm/hr)
  • 6% at 4 inches/hr  (100mm/hr)
  • 8% at 6 inches/hr  (150mm/hr)
  • 10% at 8 inches/hr (200mm/hr) 
In extreme events, this percentage error for a 0.2mm or 0.01 inch resolution rain gauge will usually blow out to nearly 20% as the rainfall intensity increases up to 12 inches/hr (300mm/hr) and beyond.

HSA offers the most reliable, durable and stable Tipping Bucket Rain Gauge with an accuracy of  ±2% up to 6 inches /hour (250mm/hour) and ±3% all the way up to 20 inches/hour (500mm/hour). Regardless of rainfall intensity, the  TB3  and  TB4  Siphoning Tipping Bucket Rain Gauges will deliver reliable and accurate data.

Have you checked the accuracy of your raingauge against different rainfall intensities?

Accuracy across different rainfall intensities
To see what rainfall intensities look like across the US, click on the link below to see Raingauge accuracy against Intensity Duration Frequency data for different regions of the United States.

- Miami



What is the biggest problem with your raingauge?

  • Funnel and Nozzle clog?
  • Rain gauge will not hold calibration?
  • Reed switch shorts out?
  • Too much maintenance?
  • Rust or dust causing friction when the bucket tips?
  • It just isn't accurate enough?
  • Salt air and spray damage the gauge?



Regular maintenance and periodic calibration checks should be performed on any tipping bucket rain gauge.  Cleaning of the buckets, nozzle and removal of any debris is also very important in maintaining the accuracy of a raingauge.

Hydrological Services FCD (Field Calibration Device) makes this task simple and even quicker with our express FCD-314. The standard FCD has 653 mls of water which takes 24 minutes to run a calibration check at 2 inches/hour and 12 minutes at 3 inches/hour.  These times are cut in half by using the FCD-314 which holds 314 mls of water.

Learn more

What raingauge should I use for lower rainfall intensity?


The TB6 is specially calibrated to achieve a high level of accuracy at lower rainfall intensities.  Proper application depends on local rainfall characteristics and rainfall return frequencies of interest.  For higher accuracy at higher rainfall intensities, HSA recommends the TB3 and TB4 siphoning Tipping Bucket Rain Gauge.

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Nashville Metro Water has achieved an 80+% reduction in clogs after switching to the TB6.   This is due to the difference between the flat screen filter on most tipping buckets and the finger filter on the TB6.  30 months after upgrade, the actual % reduction was 83% and over the course of the evaluation period, the cumulative reduction has ranged from an 80% to an 84% reduction. 

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Counted on by many of the world's leading meteorological and water resource authorities to deliver accurate data even in the most demanding conditions, t he TB3, TB4 and TB6 continue to set the global standard as the Tipping Bucket Raingauges of choice for water authorities throughout the world.

Still the one!

Sincerely,


Peter Ward
Founder/CEO
Hydrological Services America

 

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