Rain Gauge for NOAA Data Buoys

This paper describes the design, construction, and testing of a rain gauge that will measure rain quantity and rain rate on an unattended ocean buoy. The gauge has an 8-inch diameter funnel as the catchment, a 3-inch diameter pipe five feet long as a measuring tube, a capacitance probe to sense the water level in the tube, and a siphon to empty the measuring tube. This rain gauge has the ability to operate unattended for one to two years. The buoy rain gauge has been tested in simulated rain and real rain. Testing also included operation on a buoy. The results are presented graphically and are compared with other rain gauges.