Instrument

Rain Gauge
Rain Gauge

Rain gauges are ground-based instruments that measure liquid precipitation amounts directly over a specified period. Different rain gauges, such as tipping buckets and weighing gauges, collect and record data in various ways. Because of their small size and easy setup, rain gauges can be placed in different locations and are often used alongside other precipitation instruments like disdrometers to gather more details, such as precipitation rate and size distribution.

NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory passes Antarctica's tallest peak, Mount Vinson, on Oct. 22, 2012, during a flight over the continent to measure changes in the massive ice sheet and sea ice. Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger (Photography courtesy NASA Images)

Overview

Instrument Details

Measurement Type

Gauge

Measurement/Variables

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Liquid Precipitation

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation > Precipitation Amount

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Precipitation

Vertical Measurement Regions

Land Surface

Temporal Resolution

Variable

Spatial Resolution

Point

Measurement Frequency

Variable

Calibration Details

https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0426(1997)014%3C1513:ANMFAD%3E2.0.CO;2

Online Information

https://www.arm.gov/capabilities/instruments/rain

Lead Investigator
Currently unavailable
Technical Contact
Currently unavailable
Instrument Maker
Various
Funding Source
Currently unavailable
Overview Publications
Currently unavailable
Repositories
- Global Hydrology Resource Center DAAC (GHRC)
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory DAAC (ORNL)

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

Field Site

Campaign Field Sites

Stationary

68 Campaigns · 162 Instruments

IPHEx

Integrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment

2014

Southern Appalachians, including portions of North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia

view all deployment dates

· 47 Data Products

ACES

Altus Cumulus Electrification Study

2002

Florida Everglades

view all deployment dates

· 6 Data Products

FIFE

First International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project (ISLSCP) Field Experiment

1987—1989

Central Kansas

view all deployment dates

· 101 Data Products

MC3E

Mid-latitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment

2011

Central Oklahoma, Southern Plains

view all deployment dates

· 34 Data Products

OTTER

Oregon Transect Ecosystem Research Project

1989—1991

western coniferous forest in Oregon

view all deployment dates

· 14 Data Products

IFloodS

Iowa Flood Studies

2013

Iowa

view all deployment dates

· 33 Data Products

SAFARI 2000

Southern African Regional Science Initiative

1999—2001

Southern Africa

view all deployment dates

· 117 Data Products

CLPX

Cold Land Processes Experiment

2002—2008

Central Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Alaska

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

BOREAS

Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

1994—1996

Boreal forests of central Canada

view all deployment dates

· 303 Data Products

CAMEX

Convection and Moisture Experiment

1993—2001

US Atlantic coast, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean

view all deployment dates

· 70 Data Products

CalWater

2015

California, Sierra Nevada Range

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

C3VP

Canadian CloudSat/CALIPSO Validation Project

2006—2007

Ontario, Canada

view all deployment dates

· 6 Data Products

OLYMPEX

Olympic Mountains Experiment

2015—2016

Olympic Peninsula in U.S. Washington State

view all deployment dates

· 36 Data Products

GCPEx

GPM Cold Season Precipitation Experiment

2012

Ontario, Canada and northern portions of the United States (e.g., New York state, the New England area, etc.)

view all deployment dates

· 44 Data Products

FIRE

First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

1986—1998

Central and Midwest United States, California Coast, Northwest Africa, Alaska

view all deployment dates

· 131 Data Products

SMEX

Soil Moisture Experiment

2002—2005

Iowa, Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama, Arizona, Sonora, Mexico

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

SMAPVEX

Soil Moisture Active Passive Validation Experiment

2008—2022

United States, Canada, Iowa, Maryland, Arizona, Massachusetts, Manitoba

view all deployment dates

· 25 Data Products

TRMM-LBA

Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission-Large Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere

1999

Brazil, Southwest Amazon basin

view all deployment dates

· 1 Data Product

TRMM-KWAJEX

Tropical Rain Measuring Mission-Kwajalein Experiment

1999

Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

Image of a FLUXNET tower in Harvard Forests, Maine

Permanent Land Site

Campaign Permanent Land Sites

Stationary

55 Campaigns · 77 Instruments

AirMOSS

Airborne Microwave Observatory of Subcanopy and Subsurface

2012—2015

North America

view all deployment dates

Deployment Dates

Start Date	End Date
2013-08-18	2013-08-27
2013-04-11	2013-04-19
2013-05-28	2013-06-07
2013-07-06	2013-07-14
2015-08-19	2015-08-27
2014-04-14	2014-04-25
2014-06-26	2014-07-07
2015-02-17	2015-02-25
2015-06-29	2015-07-06
2013-06-10	2013-06-21
2013-07-26	2013-08-03
2013-02-19	2013-02-25
2015-09-02	2015-09-10
2015-09-22	2015-09-29
2014-03-24	2014-04-02
2014-07-08	2014-07-19
2015-05-20	2015-05-24
2014-10-14	2014-10-24
2012-09-18	2012-09-20
2012-10-02	2012-10-11
2012-10-12	2012-10-22
2013-04-20	2013-05-01
2015-08-07	2015-08-18
2014-06-06	2014-06-19
2014-08-18	2014-08-27
2015-04-03	2015-04-14
2015-04-15	2015-04-24
2013-07-15	2013-07-25
2013-11-19	2013-11-25
2014-09-28	2014-10-08
2012-10-23	2012-10-30
2013-02-05	2013-02-12
2013-09-27	2013-09-30
2013-10-24	2013-10-28
2014-09-22	2014-09-27
2014-08-08	2014-08-15
2014-05-27	2014-06-04
2014-02-13	2014-02-24
2015-05-26	2015-05-31
2015-02-10	2015-02-13

· 19 Data Products

WINCE

WINter Cloud Experiment

1997

Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, Canada

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

SMEX

Soil Moisture Experiment

2002—2005

Iowa, Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama, Arizona, Sonora, Mexico

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

WINTEX

WINter EXperiment

1999

Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, Canada

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

Moored Buoy

Stationary

6 Campaigns · 13 Instruments

TOGA COARE

Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere - Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Response Experiment

1992—1993

Western Pacific Ocean, Coral Sea

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

CEPEX

Central Equatorial Pacific Experiment

1993

Central Pacific Ocean

view all deployment dates

· 1 Data Product

SPURS

Salinity Processes in the Upper Ocean Regional Study

2012—2017

Subtropical North Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean

view all deployment dates

· 41 Data Products

Oceanus

R/V Oceanus

3 Campaigns · 12 Instruments

FIRE

First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

1986—1998

Central and Midwest United States, California Coast, Northwest Africa, Alaska

view all deployment dates

· 131 Data Products

ASTEX

Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment

1992

Azores and Madeira islands

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

Malcolm Baldrige

R/V Malcolm Baldrige

2 Campaigns · 9 Instruments

FIRE

First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

1986—1998

Central and Midwest United States, California Coast, Northwest Africa, Alaska

view all deployment dates

· 131 Data Products

ASTEX

Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment

1992

Azores and Madeira islands

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

Lady Amber

R/V Lady Amber

1 Campaign · 7 Instruments

SPURS

Salinity Processes in the Upper Ocean Regional Study

2012—2017

Subtropical North Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean

view all deployment dates

· 41 Data Products

Roger Revelle

R/V Roger Revelle

2 Campaigns · 15 Instruments

SPURS

Salinity Processes in the Upper Ocean Regional Study

2012—2017

Subtropical North Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean

view all deployment dates

· 41 Data Products

Knorr

R/V Knorr

1 Campaign · 10 Instruments

SPURS

Salinity Processes in the Upper Ocean Regional Study

2012—2017

Subtropical North Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean

view all deployment dates

· 41 Data Products

photo of the research vessel Ronald H Brown

R/V RHB

R/V Ronald H. Brown

3 Campaigns · 45 Instruments

SO GasEx

Southern Ocean Gas Exchange Experiment

2008

Southern Ocean

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

TRMM-KWAJEX

Tropical Rain Measuring Mission-Kwajalein Experiment

1999

Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

Data Products

Filter data products from this instrument by specific campaigns, platforms, or formats.

Campaigns

Platforms

Formats

BOREAS TGB-04 NSA-BVP Tower Flux and Meteorological Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/460

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

NAMMA SENEGAL RAIN GAUGE NETWORK V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/NAMMA/GAUGE/DATA201

CampaignsNASA African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

Meteorology (OTTER)10.3334/ORNLDAAC/50

CampaignsOregon Transect Ecosystem Research Project

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

GPM Ground Validation USDA ARS Soil Moisture IFloodS V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/IFLOODS/PROBES/DATA301

CampaignsIowa Flood Studies

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

GPM Ground Validation Iowa Flood Center (IFC) Rain Gauges IFloodS V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/IFLOODS/GAUGES/DATA/101

CampaignsIowa Flood Studies

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

GPM GROUND VALIDATION MET ONE RAIN GAUGE PAIRS IFLOODS V2http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/IFLOODS/GAUGE/DATA202

CampaignsIowa Flood Studies

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

GPM Ground Validation National Mosaic and Multi-Sensor QPE (NMQ) System IFloodS V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/IFLOODS/NMQ/DATA101

CampaignsIowa Flood Studies

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites, Campaign Permanent Land Sites

GPM Ground Validation Southern Appalachian Rain Gauge IPHEx V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/IPHEX/GAUGES/DATA301

CampaignsIntegrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

CAMEX-4 MIPS SURFACE STATION 1 V110.5067/CAMEX-4/MULTIPLE/DATA201

CampaignsConvection and Moisture Experiment

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

GPM GROUND VALIDATION ENVIRONMENT CANADA (EC) MANUAL PRECIPITATION MEASUREMENTS GCPEX V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/GCPEX/GAUGES/DATA101

CampaignsGPM Cold Season Precipitation Experiment

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

CAMEX-4 MIPS SURFACE STATION 2 V110.5067/CAMEX-4/MUTLIPLE/DATA202

CampaignsConvection and Moisture Experiment

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

GPM GROUND VALIDATION PLUVIO PRECIPITATION GAUGE LPVEX V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/LPVEX/PLUVIO/DATA301

CampaignsLight Precipitation Evaluation Experiment

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

GPM GROUND VALIDATION RAIN GAUGE PAIRS MC3E V2http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/MC3E/GAUGE/DATA202

CampaignsMid-latitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

GPM GROUND VALIDATION NOAA SURFACE METEOROLOGICAL STATION MC3E V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/MC3E/METSTATION/DATA001

CampaignsMid-latitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

AirMOSS: L2 Hourly Precipitation at AirMOSS Sites, 2011-201510.3334/ORNLDAAC/1417

CampaignsAirborne Microwave Observatory of Subcanopy and Subsurface

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

GPM Ground Validation Met One Rain Gauge Pairs OLYMPEX V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/OLYMPEX/GAUGES/DATA201

CampaignsOlympic Mountains Experiment

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

GPM Ground Validation Daily Precipitation OLYMPEX V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/OLYMPEX/MULTIPLE/DATA301

CampaignsOlympic Mountains Experiment

PlatformsDeHavilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter, Campaign Field Sites, Campaign Permanent Land Sites

BOREAS TF-04 SSA-YJP Tower Flux, Meteorological, and Canopy Condition Data, R110.3334/ORNLDAAC/451

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

GPM Ground Validation Environment Canada (EC) Weather Station XET C3VP V110.5067/GPMGV/C3VP/METSTATION/DATA201

CampaignsCanadian CloudSat/CALIPSO Validation Project

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

FormatsASCII

GPM Ground Validation Surface Meteorological Station C3VP V110.5067/GPMGV/C3VP/METSTATION/DATA101

CampaignsCanadian CloudSat/CALIPSO Validation Project

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

FormatsExcel

SAFARI 2000 Meteorological and Flux Tower Measurements in Maun, Botswana, 200010.3334/ORNLDAAC/760

CampaignsSouthern African Regional Science Initiative

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) PSU Malcolm Baldridge Data10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0047

CampaignsFirst International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

PlatformsR/V Malcolm Baldrige

FormatsASCII

GPM Ground Validation Rain Gauges NASA ACHIEVE IPHEx V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/IPHEX/GAUGES/DATA101

CampaignsIntegrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

GPM Ground Validation Duke Rain Gauges IPHEx V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/IPHEX/GAUGES/DATA202

CampaignsIntegrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

GPM GROUND VALIDATION MET ONE RAIN GAUGE PAIRS IPHEX V2http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/GPMGV/IPHEX/GAUGES/DATA201

CampaignsIntegrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

Site Averaged AMS Data: 1987-1989 (Betts)10.3334/ORNLDAAC/89

CampaignsFirst International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project (ISLSCP) Field Experiment

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

30 Minute Rainfall Data (FIFE)10.3334/ORNLDAAC/2

CampaignsFirst International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project (ISLSCP) Field Experiment

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

Bowen Ratio Surface Flux: GSFC (FIFE)10.3334/ORNLDAAC/20

CampaignsFirst International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project (ISLSCP) Field Experiment

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

AMS (Automated Met Station) Data (FIFE)10.3334/ORNLDAAC/12

CampaignsFirst International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project (ISLSCP) Field Experiment

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS TF-10 NSA-Fen Tower Flux and Meteorological Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/368

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS TE-11 Surface Meteorological Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/350

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS HYD-08 Throughfall Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/277

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS TE-21 Daily Surface Meteorological Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/358

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS Saskatchewan Forest Fire Control Centre Surface Meteorological Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/307

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS TF-03 NSA-OBS Tower Flux, Meteorological, and Soil Temperature Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/361

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment (ASTEX) MAGE Oceanus Meteorological Data10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0036

CampaignsFirst International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

PlatformsR/V Oceanus

FormatsASCII

BOREAS/AES MARS-II 15-minute Surface Meteorological Data: 199410.3334/ORNLDAAC/407

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS/SRC AMS Suite A Surface Meteorological and Radiation Data: 199410.3334/ORNLDAAC/462

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS TF-08 NSA-OJP Tower Flux, Meteorological, and Soil Temperature Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/516

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS TF-09 SSA-OBS Tower Flux, Meteorological, and Soil Temperature Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/367

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS 1994 HYD-09 Belfort Rain Gauge Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/229

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS/SRC AMS Suite A Surface Meteorological and Radiation Data: 199610.3334/ORNLDAAC/464

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS/AES READAC 15-minute Surface Meteorological Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/408

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS AFM-06 Surface Meteorological Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/243

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS Derived Surface Meteorological Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/249

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS 1996 HYD-09 Tipping Bucket Rain Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/234

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS 1996 HYD-09 Belfort Rain Gauge Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/233

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS HYD-01 Under Canopy Precipitation Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/254

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS TF-10 NSA-YJP Tower Flux, Meteorological, and Porometry Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/454

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS TF-02 SSA-OA Tower Flux, Meteorological, and Precipitation Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/515

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS HYD-08 1996 Gross Precipitation Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/275

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS 1994 HYD-09 Tipping Bucket Rain Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/230

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS TF-06 SSA-YA Surface Energy Flux and Meteorological Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/365

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS TF-01 SSA-OA Tower Flux, Meteorological, and Soil Temperature Data10.3334/ORNLDAAC/512

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS/AES Campbell Scientific 15-minute Surface Meteorological Data: 199410.3334/ORNLDAAC/404

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS/AES Campbell Scientific 15-minute Surface Meteorological Data: 199610.3334/ORNLDAAC/406

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) IMPACTS V110.5067/IMPACTS/ASOS/DATA101

CampaignsInvestigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

BOREAS Follow-On HMet-03 Hourly Meteorological Data at Flux Towers, 1994-199610.3334/ORNLDAAC/608

CampaignsBoreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

PlatformsCampaign Field Sites

Rain GaugeRain Gauge

Overview

Instrument Details

Instrument Operation

Data Products

Rain Gauge
Rain Gauge