2008 NADP Training Course Electronic Rain Gages

1. 2008 NADP Training CourseElectronic Rain Gages Bob Larson NADP Program Office Data & Information Manager

2. NADPGoal • Maintain an efficient measurement system that meets the data and information needs of scientists, policy-makers, educators, and the public

3. NADPNeeds • Increase completeness of valid precipitation depth measurements • reduce missing data due to equipment malfunctions and failures • Improve precipitation measurement efficiency • reduce time required to read charts and transcribe measurements

4. NADPStrategy • Replace the Belfort B5-780 recording precipitation gage with a gage that • measures all precipitation types reliably and accurately • produces a digital electronic signal, eliminating ink pens, charts, & clocks • lets one evaluate gage & collector performance without the need for tedious, time-consuming chart-reading • can be accessed by satellite, Internet, or digital cellular communications, where available Belfort B5-780

5. Criteria for New Gages

6. NADPActions • Conducted bench tests and field tests of commercially available electronic gages • Used the criteria for new gages to determine which gages performed best • NADP Network Operations Subcommittee evaluated test results and recommended acceptable gages • NADP Executive Committee decided on acceptable replacements for Belfort B5-780

7. NADPResolution (1) As of January 2006, new NADP sites must be equipped with one of these gages: • ETI Instrument Systems, Inc. NOAH IV Total Precipitation Gauge • Hach Environmental, Inc. Ott NADP Pluvio Precipitation Gauge (2) All sites must replace their Belfort gages with one of the above gages by the end of 2009. (3) Sites receiving more than 20% of annual precipitation as snow must install an Alter-type wind shield on their gage by the end of 2009.

8. Sites Requiring a Wind Shield Wind shields optional in this area

9. NADP Raingages

10. ETI NOAH IV • Optical sensor determines precipitation onset and end • Integrated Campbell CR1000 datalogger • $5640 complete

11. Hach OTT Pluvio • $4100 for gage • CR800 datalogger • Hach has developed a prototype enclosure with power system, datalogger, bluetooth, connections for collectors • Reports PPT 1 min. Cycle, 3 min. lag

14. Gage maintenance • Download data weekly • Empty bucket periodically (DON’T DROP!!) • Check for spider webs around optical sensor • Winterization: maintain 50% antifreeze solution

15. Replacing your Belfort with a NOAH IV: Quick and Dirty Method • Remove event recorder wires from Belfort • Unbolt Belfort from base, remove • Attach NOAH IV using same bolts. • Attach event recorder wires • Install battery, plug into power • Test May not be suitable if: • Want to continue Belfort operations • Wiring is in bad condition • Power issues

17. Download Demo

18. NADP Precip Data on Web • http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu/precip/ • http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu/precip/m/

19. Collector State Monitoring • Quantitative analysis of collector performance • Identification of undefined samples (> 6 hours dry exposure) • Identification of equipment malfunction

26. Future Directions • Uploading data • Web-based plots and troubleshooting aids • Electronic field forms

27. Troubleshooting • Communication problems: • Make sure Bluetooth Radio is on • Stand close to the gage • Follow the SOP • Last resort: soft reset (reboot) • Excess Dry Exposure • Grid sensor problems • Missed Exposure • Some is normal (with N-Con, sometimes a lot is normal) • Collector problem • Spider webs • Blocked sensor • Fog