Laserfiche WebLink
<br />for comparison purposes. 10/ Data from the gages were reduced inde- <br />pendently by two different:peop1e using the same procedures. The <br />accumulative totals were almost identical; in the last year of opera- <br />tion, one measured 1226 millimeters (48.27 inches) of water and the <br />other 1227 millimeters (48.29 inches). The daily totals had differences <br />ranging from 0.254 to 2.286 millimetl~rs (0.01 to 0.09 inch). <br /> <br />The 68-gage network of recording precipitation gages operated by <br />WSSI operated very well with data obtained for over 95 percent of <br />the total hours possible. The problems that were encountered were <br />almost entirely weather related, consisting of battery failures <br />during low temperatures and bridging during periods of heavy <br />snowfall. <br /> <br />From the spri ng of 1973 through the Gomp1 eti on of research in thl~ <br />San Juan Mountains in May 1975, WSSI conducted tests and application <br />of the ERTS/LANDSAT satellite. 11/ A network of seven data collection <br />platforms was operated by WSSI.--The system provided the capability <br />of collecting, transmitting, and disseminating up to eight channels <br />of data from remote unattended sites., Data transmissions were melde <br />by the orbiting satellite from three to five times per day from <br />the sites tested. The tests showed the system to be reliable, <br />weather resistant, and capable of providing data of high quality in <br />near-rea 1-ti me. <br /> <br />Additional developmental work was done for Project Skywater by WSSI <br />on a prototype system with 50 gages using both surface and satellite <br />telemetry. 12/ A test was conducted at Fort Collins, Colorado, <br />during the 1975-1976 winter months and a summer season test in 1976 <br />at Miles City, Montana. The system ~'as designed to operate usin9 <br />either a tipping-bucket or autosiphon gage. The autosiphon is a <br />low-cost gage that has a funnel colle'ctor, filter, and storage <br />reservoir which automatically initiates a siphoning action when full <br />which empties the reservoir and triggiers an electrical contact <br />marking the event. The autosiphon was not successful because of the <br />large amount of data loss due to blockage of the filter screen by <br />insects and debris. The system development has not been completed <br />due to both sensor-related problems and poor sealing of the gage <br />electronics. Although further work w'ith the autosiphon is not <br />planned, additional work with the telemetry is being considered <br />for potential use on both summer and winter programs. <br /> <br />5 <br />