> > On Thu, 26 Aug 1999 16:04:50 -0500 Martin McCormick > writes: > > One rain measuring method we studied in a Physical Geography > >class I took once is called the tipping bucket gauge. A rod is > >connected to a shaft that can turn a counter... > > This is a standard device that I think is still the state of the art in > rain measurement. The Physics Department of the University of Auckland in New Zealand designed and built a rain gauge that uses a cone and tube shaped device that forms a drop of water of exactly the same size at its end everytime, as the rainfall varies all that changes is the frequency of drops forming and dropping. I recall the drops were detected (and timed) with wires that the drop makes contact with (this I cant remember but drop counting wouldn't be too hard). I know this mainly because the tech who programmed the microcontroller for it helped me get started in micros. I cant find the device on the Uni web site but check out.. http://www.peetbros.com/peetbrosnofram/part2.htm#rain Sounds awfully like it. _____________________________ Lance Allen Technical Officer Uni of Auckland Psych Dept New Zealand _____________________________