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<br />001457 <br /> <br />II. PRECIPITATION <br /> <br />Types of gages <br /> <br />B.1 far the greater part of the published records of precipitation <br />have been derived from the non-recording 8-inch precipitation can with <br />funnel and 'measuring tube which has been the standard gage for more than <br />a century.' In such gages the catch of precipitation is measured <br />periodically by an observer, commonly once each day. Daily, monthly, and <br />yearly amodntsof precipitation so measured are published currently by <br />the Weather Bureau for about 9,000 stations. <br /> <br />Precipitation amounts that are measured less frequently than once a <br />day are published separately. Most such records are from non-recording storage <br />gages in remote areas. Examples are the standpipe, "Sacramentoll, and <br />extended 8..inch cans which have capacities for storing large amounts of <br />precipitation. . Either oil or an anti-freeze solution generally is placed <br />in these gages to prevent evaporation and freezing. <br /> <br />Recording gages are installed at first-order stations of the Weather <br />Bureau and 'at certain other locations to measure precipitation rates by <br />hourly or shorter intervals. These gages generally embody an 8-inch-diameter <br />funnel to catch the precipitation; all embody a clock-driven chsrt on whieh <br />the catch is recorded. Three types of recording gages are common. In twcli ' <br />of the three the catch passes to a receiver, from which the recording <br />mechanism is actuated by the increasing weight or the rising water level. <br />In the third type, the catch passes to a Iltipping bucket" whose action <br />marks a tiClk on the chart for each 0.01 inch of precipitation (or by" SOMe <br />larger incFement). <br /> <br />At Weather Bureau stations, recording precipitation gages commonly <br />are of the' weighing type. Where both a recording and a non-recording gage <br />are installed, the official amounts of precipitation are those indicated <br />by the recdrding gage. <br /> <br />Records published by the Weather Bureau from its recording precipitation <br />gages show ;hourly, daily, monthly, and yearly amounts. So published, the' <br />amounts of.hourly precipitation are those for clock hours; they should not <br />be construed as instantaneous rates of precipitation, which may be several- <br />fold greater and which can be derived from the recorder charts. <br /> <br />, <br />, <br /> <br />11.1 <br /> <br /> <br />f <br />