Teacher guide Rain
Teacher guide Rain gauges Drought Climatologists use temperature and precipitation records to create a definition of the ‘normal’ climate for an area (typically using the average of 30 years of data), which then helps us to measure periods of unusual weather, such as flooding or drought. To collect this data, climatologists use a variety of tools. A rain gauge is a useful tool to track how much precipitation there is, and is one of several indicators to monitor the length and severity of a drought. In this project, students will design, make and test a rain gauge which can be used to help predict drought and the likelihood of having to use reservoirs or groundwater supply. Prompts • How could you evaluate how accurate your rain gauge is? Is there a way you could improve the design to make it more accurate? • How often do you need to take measurements to make your data useful? • Try comparing the amount of rain to the length of time the rain lasted. Was it a short and heavy rain shower or a long and light one? • How will you display the data you collect? What kind of graph(s) would be most suitable to display rainfall over a period of time? • How long would you need to collect data for in order to calculate average rainfall? 14
Student brief Rain gauges Drought (Engineering, data, drought, climate change) Have you ever wondered how to measure rain? Imagine you are a climatologist. You are trying to calculate the average rainfall for your local area. You want your data to be as accurate as possible. Design and make a rain gauge, and then use your gauge to collect data about rainfall in your area. Getting started Start by researching how rain gauges work. You could look at some different products on the market to inform your design ideas. You will need to think about durability and functionality. Remember, your design doesn’t have to look like other rain gauges, as long as it can collect and measure rainfall data. Things to think about • Remember your rain gauge needs to survive outside for a long period of time in order to gather viable data. What materials will you use? • Where will you put your rain gauge? How might the location affect the data you collect? • How can you measure/evaluate how accurate your gauge is? Can you think of any ways to improve your design? • How long will you collect data for? How often do you need to take measurements to make your data useful? • Why not add to your data by using historical data from a local rain gauge at the UKCEH Environmental Information Platform, or from the National River Flow Archive? Useful resources • How to Build a Rain Gauge https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Rain-Gauge • Why Is a Rain Gauge Important? https://sciencing.com/rain-gauge-important- 6611576.html • Rain Gauges Helping Farmers Adapt to Droughts in Mwenezi https://www.scoreagainstpoverty.org/375-2/ • DROUGHT: The Importance of Drought Indicators https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/news/droughtimportance-drought-indicators • National River Flow Archive https://nrfa.ceh.ac.uk/ Health and safety To avoid any accidents, make sure you stick to the following health and safety guidelines before getting started: • Find out if any of the materials, equipment or methods are hazardous using http://science.cleapss.org.uk/Resources/Student- Safety-Sheets/ to assess the risks. (Think about what could go wrong and how serious it might be.) • Decide what you need to do to reduce any risks (such as wearing personal protective equipment, knowing how to deal with emergencies and so on). • Make sure there is plenty of space to work. • Clear up slip or trip hazards promptly. • Make sure your teacher agrees with your plan and risk assessment. 15
