IS

8389:2003

Indian Standard INSTALLATION AND USE OF RAINGAUGES, RECORDING CODE OF PRACTICE (Second Revision )

ICS 93.160

@ 131S2003

BUREAU
MANAK

OF
BHAVAN,

INDIAN

STANDARDS
ZAFAR MARG

9 BAHADUR SHAH NEW DELHI 110002

May 2003

Price Group 8

Ground Water and Related Investigation

Sectional Committee,

WRD 3

FOREWORD This Indian Standard (Second Revision) was adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards, after the draft finalized by the Ground Water and Related Investigation Sectional Committee had been approved by the Water Resources Division Council. The total amount of precipitation which reaches the ground in a stated period is expressed as the depth to which it would cover a horizontal projection of the earths surface, if there were no loss by evaporation, percolation or run-off and if any part of the precipitation falling as snow or ice were melted. The simplest method of measuring precipitation is by using gauges with a horizontal circular aperture of known area and collecting and measuring at regular intervals the precipitation collected in them. It is assumed that the amount of precipitation collected in the gauge is representative of a certain area around the point where the measurement is made. The choice of the instrument and the site itself, the forin and exposure of the measuring gauge; the prevention of loss of precipitation by evaporation and the effects of wind and splashing are some of the important points to be considered in the correct measurement of precipitation. Before analyzing rainfall data from precipitation gauges, the condition of the raingauge, its maintenance, the period for which the data refers and the control exercised on the quality of data collected, shall be carefully examined. Precipitation gauges are of two types, namely (a) non-recording, and (b) recording. The non-recording type measures only the accumulated rain which has fallen in a course of time, generally 24 h, while the recording type indicates the duration (that is, the time of onset and cessation), amount and intensity of rain whenever it occurs. However, when a recording type is desired at a particular place it is imperative that non-recording type is also installed alongside for comparison. This code is confined to the recording type of raingauges. This standard was first issued in 1977 and revised in 1983. In this revision the major modifications are in respect of size of collector rim of natural siphon recording raingauge and certain modifications in the ,proforma for inspection report. Among the different types of recording raingauges, the most videly used in India is the float gauge, with, automatic siphoning arrangement. Detailed specifications for this type of raingauge are given in IS 5235:1992 Meteorology rainguage recording Specification. There is no ISO Standard on the subject. This standard has been prepared based on the data received indigenous practioners and also taking into consideration the practice prevalent in the field in India. The composition of the Committee responsible for the formulation of this standard is given in Annex C. from

For the purpbse of deciding whether a particular requirement of this standard is complied with, the final value, observed or calculated, expressing the result of a test or analysis, shall be rounded off in accordance with IS 2:1960 Rules for rounding off numerical values (revise~. The number of significant places retained in the rounded off value should be the same as that of the specified value in this standard.

IS 8389:2003

Indian Standard INSTALLATION AND USE OF RAINGAUGES, RECORDING CODE OF PRACTICE (Second Revision )
1 SCOPE This standard covers the procedure to bc followed in the installation, use and recording ofprccipitation from the natural siphon type recording raingauges. 2 REFERENCE [he following standard contains provision which through reference in this text, constitutes provision of this standard. At the time of publication, the edition indicated was valid. All standards are subject to revision, and parties to agreements based on this standard are encouraged to investigate the possibility of applying the most recent edition of the standard indicated below: I.YN(). 5047: 1970 Title Charts for recording instruments 3.2 The measure glass (see Fig. 3) designed for use with the raingauge has a capacity corresponding to 10 mm of rainfall with graduations every 0.1 mm. 3.3 To record the precipitation at stations where heavy rainfall is experienced regularly, collector of lesser area (129.4 * 0.4 cm2 ) is preferable so that volume of water collected for certain amount of rainfall will be less. With this collector, the raingauge has a capacity of 25 mm of rainfall for each siphoning. A suitable measure glass for this type of recorder has also been provided. This has a capacity corresponding to 25 mm of rainfall, with graduations at every 0.2 mm (see Fig. 4). 3.4 The recording raingauge having 323.7 + 0.7 cm~ rim area of collector and 10 mm rainfall capacity, uses Chart No. DR-1 and that having (129.4+ 0.4 cn12) rim area of collector with 25 mm of rainfall capacity, uses Chart No. DR-2 (see IS 5947). 4 EXPOSURE OF RAINGAUGE

meteorological

3 DESCRIPTION 3.1 The natural siphon recording raingauge (see Fig. 1) consists of a collector and rainfall recording mechanism (.YLCig. 2) mounted on a base. The rainfall recording F uni[ consists of a float chamber containing a light metal floal Jnd a siphon chamber. Rain from the collector is Id into the float chamber through an inlet tube and as d~c floilt rises, a pen fixed to the float, rod draws a line ~Itl :] chart WL)Lilld on a rotating drum driven by clocklt ork. The discharge tube is inside and coaxial ){ ith the outer tube of the siphon chamber. The top of this outer tube has a polished glass cap and the discharge tube comes to within every short distance of [his. Lkhcn the level of water in the outer tube rises \\ith that of the water in the float chamber and flOWS over tbc bend at the top of the discharge tube, capillary action causes all the air to be pushed out and down the discharge tube so that a full flow is started at once. At the end of this siphoning, air finds access to the top of the tube and the siphoning action is topped immediately. As the water from the float chamber empties out, the float descends and the pen attached to rhe float rod slowly falls to the zero mark on the chart ii hen siphoning is complete. The gauge is now ready [(~ record rainfal} again. The gauge generally has a cap;icity 1() mm of rainfall for each siphoning; and of I)w a colicctor having a rim area of 323.7 * 0.7 cm2 1203 J- 0.2 n)m dia). 1

4.1 In a perfect exposure the catch of the mingauge would accurately represent the precipitation falling on the surrounding area. This is, however, difficult to attain in practice because of the effect of the wind and much care has to be given to the choice of the site. The catch in a raingauge depends on the exposure of the gauge to the wind and also on the disposition and height of the surrounding terrain and objects. The result of the former is generally to reduce the amount of water collected, while the effects of the latter are more important and can give rise both to an increase or decrease in the recorded value. It is important that the observations made at different stations under similar environmental and topographic setting should be comparable and that their exposures should be similar. The rules given in 4.1.1 to 4.1.3 for the setting of the gauges shall be followed. 4.1.1 The gauge shall be exposed with its rim horizontal, over as level a ground as possible. It shall not be located on a slope with the ground sloping sharply away in any direction, especially if this direction is the same as the prevailing wind or on a terrace and never on a wall, roof or similar other object.
NOTE The level ground may have an area of 6 x 6 m.

IS 8389:2003

GUNMETAL RIM ---FUNNEL \\

&

128.6 ,

OR 203.4mm

++

HOLES=

\ -DRUM -PEN

FILTER

~~ FLOAT CHAMBER

INLET GLASS

TUBE CAP \

COLLECTOR

67 m

SIPHON CHAMBER=

BASE >

-& FLOAT

-FLOAT

A
FIG.

FOUNDATION

BOLT

1 NATURAL.

-S IPIIOYR ECORDINGRAINGAUGE

4.i.2 The distance of the raingauge from any surrouociing object shall generally be four times the huigh: of the object, but shall never be less than twice [he height of object. 4.1.3 Where the observations have to be made on an cl~ensive sloping surface, such as the side of a mountain. effort shall be made to expose the gauge on a smooth site which is sufficiently large in area and l~hosc slope and orientation correspond to the average s !(~pc and orientation of the surrc~undings. However, [hc instrument under no circumstances should be ln~tallcd on unstable slopes or in their close proximity. 5 lXSTALLATION R,\ IN G.+UCE 5.1
1ilc

hard surface is not reached at the prescribed depth, it may be dug deeper and filled in with boulders and rubbles up to a depth of 525 mm below ground level. 5.2 A-150 mm Iong foundation bolt is fixed in the centre of the platform so that 50 mm of the bolt projects above the top of the platfonm After the bolt has set in the cement, fix the base of the raingauge on the platform, as follows. Remove the three thumb nuts (see Fig. 2) and raise the recording mechanism straight up from its seat. Place the base on the platform so that the foundation bolt passes through the hole in the centre of the angle iron piece and fix it with the fly nut. This can be done through the opening in the base. Place the collector and see that the instrument rests firmly on the platform and is vertical. A spirit level should be placed across the rim in three different directions and the horizontality checked. Now replace the recording mechanism in its place and lock it with the three thumb

OF

THE

RECORDING

raingauge

shall be instalied

on a concrete

or

l[ltis~)nry plutform

600 mm cube as shown in Fig. 5,

CICUICYI tiom hard soil surface. If the soil is loose, and

1S 8389:2003

FILTER INLET TUBE t I

DRUM SETSCREW FOR COLLAR J

SMALL

OPENING \\ II

co

UT

SIPHON

BER

FIG.

2 THE RECORDING MECHANISM

nuts. The float chamber should be levelled by means of the three nuts below the thumb nuts. 5.3 The gauge shall be so installed that the rim of the tunncl is truly horizontal and at a height of exactly 750 mm above the ground level. s.4 Suitable arrangements for draining the water from

6 PROTECTION

OF RAINGAUGE

the surface of the platform shall be made such that the water never stagnates on the top surface of the platform. 5.S The recording raingauge shall be installed in an enclosure by the side of the non-recording raingauge preferably at a distance of about 3 m from it; if this is not possible for any reason, the two raingauges shall be separated from each other by a distance not less than 1.5 m (see Fig. 6). 3

6.1 The raingauge shall be protected from damage by installing it inside a suitable protective fencing as shown in Fig. 6. The fence shall be of such height that the top of the fence is not higher than half the distance of the fence from the gauge. Though a suggested size for the fence is shown in Fig. 6, it is desirable, wherever possible, to enlarge the size to meet stipulations laid down in 4.1.2. 6.2 The raingauge shall always be kept locked. OF

7 METHOD OF USE AND MAINTENANCE THE RECORDING RAINGAUGE 7.1 Remove the cover and wrap the appropriate

chart,

Is 8389:2003
1

<

/7
2 min.

25mm i J!_

~2 min

29

10

295:10 t 235T11

235t10

i-++

A)! dimcns)oms

]n millimctres.
10R

All dimensions in millimetres.

C1112

]1(,.

g MF,4SURE ~1..\SS
Rf;coRl)i N(i

325

Fl~. 4 MEASURE
WKORDING

GLASS

FOR

130 cmz

RAi N(;ALI( it.

RAINGAUGF.

clihci Ijf{- 1 or DR-2, on the clock-dram, t:iking care horizontal lines on the 10 scc that corresponding
()~crlapping of tbc chart portions arc coincident and that the bottom is as near to the flange at the bottom as

pt,isiblc. The instrumcmt is set as given in 7.1.1 to 7.1.4. 7,1.1 Iour sufficient water into the tube leading to the ilt)at cluimber till the water begins to siphon. After ~!photling is complctc, and the pen has become steady, tile pen point should rest against the zero line on the c!);lrt. Ifit does not, loosen the setscrew fixing the pen
L)IIth~? IIO:It I-Od and move the pen carrier
P(K] u];[ii tilt: pen point is exactly
on

on the float

the zero line. Now

the chart, The water should now be poured in drop by drop until the instrument siphons. This should occur when the top line is reached and there is no water left in the measure glass. If the pen does not rise to the top line of the chart, loosen the setscrew fixing the collar in the lid and slightly raise the collar by turning it. Adjust till the correct range is obtained on the chart when 10 or 25 mm of water is added. The raingauges are set and calibrated before they are dispatched to the station and it will not normally be necessary to set the headed collar at the outstation, or to read just the discharge tube. 7.1.3 Put sufficient ink in the pen, taking care to see that ink does not hang in a drop from the underside of the pen. The pen reservoir can hold more than sufficient ink for a normal weeks record and therefore need not be filled to overflowing daily. 4

tighten the sctscreyv. of 10 or 25 mm of ir.lin(:]1]lroln the appropriate measure glass. Pour this into the inlet tube until tbc pen reaches i,,:I[cr :ctiti}
IIIC i)ori~ontal line immediately below the top line on

7. 1.2 Measure out the equivalent

IS 8389:2003
1286 2::.4 rl

7 750

ANWLRON

1
2-75

9 - _ _____ ------150 ! GL

1,.
I I

b
1=+

g
1;0

~-= 4

<~

,-

1
I 1 I \

MASONRY OR CEMENT CONCRETE PLATFORM 60x60 x60cm I

I I I l_EA!!=pkRl~c~-

All dimensions

in millimetres, SIPHON RECORDING RAINGAUGE

F1~.5

INSTALLATION

OF NATURAL

;onle[imes no trace is obtained owing to tip of the pm being nol wet and touching the paper at the slit in the pcn through which ink flows. To adjust the pen. loosen the setscrew fixing the pen on the float NJCI nd rotate the pen carrier about the float rod till it a marks correctly. Tighten the screw. Care should be taken to see that the pen is not displaced vertically ~vbile doing this.

7.2.2 Unlock and remove the cover and place it on the ground nearby with the rim at top. Lift off the pen by loosening the setscrew fixing the pen to the float rod. Take off the old chart after removing the clip, put on new chart correctly and replace the chart clip. 7.2.3 Wind the clock, if necessary. The clock need be wound filly only once in seven days. 7.2.4 See that there is sufficient ink in the pen and that it marks. 7.2.5 Set the pen to zero as follows. Pour sufficient water into the receiver from the measure glass slowly till the pen reaches the top and water siphons out. After all the water has drained out, the pen should be on the zero line. If not, adjust as described in 7.1.2. Repeat the operation, if necessary, until a correct trace is obtained at the extreme left of the chart grid. 5

7.1.4 Wind the clock and set the pen to the correct ti nlc to record. 7.2 Daily Routine Operation 7.2.1 The chart is changed at the same time each day, Lisually behvecn O 830 h and O 900 h Indian Standard Tinlc (1ST). The daily routine given in 7.2.2 to 7.2.7 lllay be followed.

IS 8389:2003

II

/
I I I I

&-----l,o-l

l--%%l--

~oo~
All dimensions in millimetres.
Fi(,. 6 LAYOUT PLAN OF NON-RECORDING RAINGAUGE, RECORDING RAINGAUGE, SMALL

I
THERMOMETER

SCRtZFN, LARGE INSTRUMENT SCREEN IN POSITION AND FENCE REQUIRED TO ENCLOSE Tti~sri

7.2.6 Set the pen to the correct 1ST to the nearest minute by rotating the drum. Now allow the pen to trace the record by itself. 7.2.7 Replace the cover over the base, taking care to scc that the funnel outlet tube is properly seated inside the inlet tube leading to the float chamber. 7.3 Maintenance 7,3.1 See that the instrument is always kept clean and that no leaves, etc, have got into the funnel. In the rainy season the wiregauge filter should be taken out and cleaned at least once a week. It should also be cleaned immediately after every thunderstorm or dust storm. 7.3.2 Check that the instrument is horizontal, by means of spirit level kept across the rim. 7.3.3 See that the inside of the glass cap is clean. This is very necessary for proper siphoning. The glass piece can be removed for cleaning as described in 7.3.4. Clean the glass with a soft dry cloth, without any oil or grease on it.

7.3.4 The instrument should be dismantled and the receiver, float and the funnel should be thoroughly cleaned as described in 7.3.4.1 to 7,3.4.4. 7.3.4.1 Lift off the cover, remove the clock drum and the three thumb nuts. Remove the three small screws and washers which hold the receiver laid in place. Now gently lift out the float from the float chamber. 7.3.4.2 To clean the float chamber, lift it off the base, flush it out with water after unscrewing the bottom cap. Scour the inside with the hand, if required. 7.3.4.3 To clean the siphon tube, unscrew the top cap and examine the fibre gasket to see it is in good condition. Then remove the glass piece and lift off the conical brass head with a bent pin. Clean siphon tube. 7.3.4.4 After cleaning the float chamber, float, wire gauge-filter, etc, with a jet of water, assemble the parts of the instrument. The siphon parts should be assembled very carefully and the cap screwed on tight. Replace washers, if required. It is safer not to tamper with the siphon, unless the inner tube looks dirty.

IS 8389:2003 7.3.5 The fibre washer between the float chamber and siphon chamber should be replaced, if the chamber is found to leak at this joint. To remove the siphon chamber, four screws holding it to the float chamber should be unscrewed, the defective washer replaced and the siphon chamber refixed in exactly the original position. 7.3.6 The instrument should be tested at regular intervals, especially when no rain has fallen for some time. This should be done by pouring measured quantities of water from the appropriate measure glass. If the appropriate measure glass is not readily available, but only the 20 mm capacity measure glass of the 2000 mmz non-recording raingauge is available, the same may be used. In this case, water equivalent to 16.25 mm of rainfall from the measure glass shall be used. If a measure glass suitable for the 1 000 mmz non-recording raingauge only is available, then water equivalent to 32.5 mm of rainfall from the measure glass shall be used. 7.3.7 The time of siphoning should be checked occasionally to see whether the discharge tube is choked. The time taken should be about 15 s and in no case more than 20 s. 7.3.8 The record should be as fine as possible without becoming illegible or without the pen scratching the paper. The pen should therefore be handled very carefully and improved records can be obtained by squaring off the tip of the pen, so that it is perfectly normal to the slit from the eye to the point, and slightly rounding the edges. The tip can be cleaned by passing a piece of thin strong paper between the points. Thick paper shall not be used because of the danger that the point may be permanently opened. The penis sturdily constructed and should last as long as the instrument, if carefully handled. 7.3.9 Special ink is used in the pen because normal ink evaporates too quickly. In dry weather glycerine may be added to reduce evaporation, if found necessary. 7.4 Maintenance in Snowy and Frosty Weather to thaw the an accurate damage by by heating snow continually as it falls into the funnel, record will no~ be obtained. The danger of frost and of loss of record can be overcome the gauge by means of a night light.

7.4.3 If mains electric supply is available or can conveniently be installed, a standard Iampholder (batten type) can be fitted to the base at one side of the float chamber. A 25-watt lamp so fitted should prevent freezing with temperature down to -10C. If temperature below 1 OC are expected, the float chamber unit should be removed and brought indoors, being replaced as soon as practicable. The clock and drum may also be taken in at the same time. 8 SOURCES OF ERROR

8.1 If the trace recorded when no rain has fallen is not horizontal on the chart, there maybe faults in: a) b) the setting of the chart on the drum, or the alignment of the axis of the clockworld drum and the float axis.

Fault (a) can be prevented by taking care when putting the charts on the drum. For fault (b) the drum should be replaced. The error due to these faults may also be corrected by using the following formula:
i= 1

.,

litanm where i= .,
1

real intensity,
=

measured intensity, and

= angle of non-parallelism.

8.2 The raingauge is adjusted to siphon after collection of 10 mm or 25 mm of rainfall, but due probably to friction in the guide or non-horizontality of the gauge, the float may not go up the 10 mm or 25 mm mark even though siphoning occurs. Check whether the threaded collar is limiting the movement of the float. If not, compare with the non-recording raingauge reading and correct the values obtained. 8.3 If the float leaks the instrument will stop working, but with a slight leak the siphoning will occur only after more than 10 mm or 25 mm of rain, as the case may be, have fallen owning to the lower position of the float in the water. This fault will be shown up after siphoning, as the pen will fall below the zero line, and should be looked for especially afler a period of frost. If the float chamber is not watertight, the line marked by the pen will not be horizontal during a period without rain. If a leak occurs, get the whole instrument replaced. 8.4 Errors inherent in the design of the instrument itself 7

7.4.1 [tshall be remembered that the recording raingauge is not an instrument for measuring snowfall. As such the instrument shall not be used at any station during periods of snowfall. The precautions detailed in 7.4.2 and 7.4.3 shall be foliowed. 7.4.2 It should be remembered that there is always a certain amount of w ater left in the float chamber, even when the pen is recording on the zero line of the chart. Unless, therefore, the gauge is heated in frosty weather, the water in the chamber will freeze and cause damage to the float. Again in snowy weather unless it is possible

IS 8389:2003 are the loss of recording during siphoning and the crcjl~ding together of the record during periods of very heavy rain. The tlrst is small except during periods of heavy rain, but the second can be a serious fault. Cf)rrcctions for both are, however, made since the
rainfall amount are daily compared raingauge. with the readings of the !~on-recording

rainfall in mm up to thours and r up to t hours then the average intensity is equal to (r-r)/(t - t) where r and r are expressed in mm and t and I in hours (see Fig. 7B). In the actual example: given, the average intensity of rainfall 10 CARE GLASS
10-4.7 = 1.9mmlh

2.75

8.5 lfany other faults develop and cannot be rectified at the station get the instrument replaced. 9 DETERMINATION OF RATE OF RAINFALL

OF RAINGAUGE

AND

MEASURE

9. I The rate of rainfall can be determined from the rc(x)rd by noting the amount of rain which has fallen

Itl a short time centered about a given time, that is, the slope oftllc trace at any point will give approximately the Intensity of rain at the instant [see Fig. 7A)].
9.Z TO obtain

10.1 It shall be ensured that the collector of the raingauge does not get choked with dirt and the funnel outlet tube is clear and clean. They shall be emptied regularly of dust, sediment or other material that may have fallen into them and cleaned periodically. 10.2 The collector, the inlet tube, the float chamber and the siphon chamber shall be examined for leaks regularly. If any of them are found to be leaking, they shall either be repaired locally, if possible, or the instrument replaced. A few of the components like the wire gauge filter in the inlet tube, clock drum; glass disc and metal and fibre washers, nib, clear acrylic sheet for the window, etc, for which spares are available, shall be obtained and replaced whenever necessary to get the instrument into working order. 10.3 While replacing the collector on the base, it shall be ensured that the tunnel outlet tube has gone inside the inlet tube of the recording mechanism. The funnel

the intensity

at an instant,

erect a

perpendicular on horizontal axis at tto meet the trace at A. On either side of A and very near to it, choose t}~o points P and P equidistant from A. Join PP with the bclp of a straight edge and extend it to meet the horizonta] axis at t. Slope of the line PAPr=At/ttin hours. In the actual example given, the intensity of rain Fdll is 8/2.5 = 3.2 rnntih.
9.3 To obtain the average intensity for a time interval ([ /). divide ~he total rainfall in mm during the period h> thenLImber of hours during the period. If r is the

24 10

24 10

0 t~ t ~

7A

Determination

of intensity

at Any Instant

7B Determination

of Average Intensity Time Interval t

for a

Fl~. 7

DETERMINATION

OF RATE OF RAINFALL
8

IS 8389:2003 outlet tube is liable to break if improperly handled and care shall therefore be taken to avoid breakage of this component. 10.4 Care shall be take not to dent or deform gunmetal rim of the collector by rough handling. the advisable to inspect the instrument once in the afternoon and ink the pen, if necessary. Ink shall not be allowed to clot in the nib, at any cost. If it has clotted, the nib assembly shall be removed and washed first in warm water and then in methylated spirit before refixing it on the float rod. 10.11 The chart shall be changed regularly before 0900 1ST. Otherwise the free rotation of the drum will be obstructed by the nib, causing damage both to the nib and the clock mechanism. 11 MAINTENANCE RECORDS AND COMPLETION OF

10.5 No shrubs or plants shall be allowed to grow within the enclosure around the raingauge. Short grass under 50 mm is tolerable under unavoidable circumstances. 10.6
glass

Every

station

shall be provided

with a measure

for the type of raingauge in use. The measure glass shall be kept spotlessly clean. It shall always be handled gently to avoid breakage and stored dry in a safe place when not in use.
sLiitab]e

glass in use is broken, 10.7 When the measure replacement shall be procured immediately and the daily check of the raingauge carried on meanwhile, with the rain measure meant for use with the nonrccording raingauge. 10.8 If no rain measure of any sort is available at the station, a chemists millimetre measuring jar or a similar one from a school or college or similar institution shall be temporarily obtained to carry on the daily check. It shall be noted that a measure glass is not absolutely essential for the working or recording of the instrurncnt. It is meant only for checking the functioning and hence no serious loss or inaccuracy is Ilkely to occur in the absence of a measure glass for a short period. However, the daily test siphoning shall be done without fail before starting a new record and it shill be ensured that the siphoning starts exactly ]vhen the pen has reached the topmost graduation mark and that the pen falls down exactly to the zero or lowest graduation line after completion of the siphoning. 10.9 The clockwork mechanism and drum are very delicate and form one of the essential components of the instrument. The drum shall be handled carefully to avoid dents or deformation. Care shall be taken to see that dust and grit does not enter the mechanism. If properly maintained, the clock will run indefinitely. [f it stops. valuable records will be lost. 10 case of stoppage of the clock, replacement shall be obtained with the least possible delay. Attempts shall not be made by the staff at the station to repair a defective clock. However, minor adjustments of the regulator of the clock to make it go faster or slower, may be made, if the clock is found to be losing or gaining time, 10.10 Care shall be taken to see that there is sufficient iuk in the pen and that loss of record due to insufficient ink does not occur. Too much ink in the pen shall also be avoided, since it will invariably drip ciownand spoil the chart. In dry season, it would be 9

11.1 The record shall be thin, well defined, continuous line in which the fluctuations are not lost in the thickness of the trace. It shall therefore be seen that the pen is not drawing a thick trace. A thick trace due to a blunt nib can be avoided by slightly sharpening the nib with a fine emery paper. While sharpening the nib, it shall be ensured that only the two sides are rubbed with the paper and not the tip. 11.2 Care s~all be taken to see that the recorded chart is clean and free from blots, thumb impressions and other marks. The freshly removed chart is liable to get smudged unless handled carefully and allowed to dry. Use only the special recording ink prescribed. 11.3 The chart shall always be written up immediately on removal from the instrument. The following particulars shall be entered at the appropriate places on each chart: a) b) c) Name of the station; Serial number and name of the maker of the instrument; The actual time (1ST) correct to a minute at which the record was started, along with the date, month and year. The exact time shall be noted from the watch after appiying the correction, for its error, if any; The actual time (1ST) correct to a minute at which the record was removed along with the date, month and year; The total amount of rain recorded by the instrument during the past 24 h, correct to 0.1 mm; The total amount of rain measured during the past 24 h, in the non-recording raingauge. The two amounts shall approximately tally; Wherever possible, any special weather phenomena, like thunderstorm, squall, etc, shall be indicated symbolically or briefly in pencil on the chart at approximately the same time on the chart as the time of its actual occurrence; and

d)

e)

g)

IS 8389 :2003 h) Any adjustment or setting made, together with the time and date on which it was made shall be recorded on the back of the chart. 12.1.2 It shall be seen that the observer regularly performs the initial trial siphoning at the extreme left of the chart and sets the pen correctly on the zero line. 12.1.3 Wherever necessary, the inspector shall see that the hourly tabulations of the rainfal 1,as deduced from the charts are being done correctly and the hourly tabulation form is being kept up to date. He should verify that the observer knows how to make the entries in the form correctly. The inspector shall prepare the Inspection Reports in the proforma given in Annex A. 13 TABULATION RAINFALL OF HOURLY VALUES OF

11.4 The completed charts shall be preserved carefully, arranged in a chronological order, the latest chart being on the top. The charts shall be preserved, preferably inside a polythene bag, between two thick cardboards, to avoid their being crumpled or crushed. 12 INSPECTION OF THE RAINGAUGE

12.1 The recording raingauge shall be inspected periodically, say at least twice a year, as the observers often allow changes, to take place in the exposure of a gauge without being aware that action is necessary. Inspection should be suitably spaced so that there is at least one inspection before the monsoon. The main object of inspection shall be to determine the following:
a) b)

13.1 Hourly values of rainfall shall be tabulated in the form given in Annex B. Blank spaces are left at the top of the form for the entries mentioned in 13.1.1 to 13.1.7. 13.1.1 Station The name of the station shall be entered here specifying within brackets the height of the station above mean sea level in metres. The height shall be reckoned for the ground on which the raingauge is installed. Latitude, longitude, name of river catchment and sub-catchment shall also be entered. 13.1.2 Standard of Time

Whether the instrument is suitably placed and is functioning satisfactorily? Whether the rainfall charts and other records are properly and neatly kept and are in good order? Whether the observer the prescribed hour? changes the charts at requires

c) d) e) f)

Whether any part of the raingauge repair or replacement?

Whether there has been any change of site? At places where exceptionally heavy rainfall is recorded, it shall be ascertained that the proper type of the recording raingauge is in use and the appropriate charts and measure glass are available and are in good order.

Indian Standard Time according to which tabulations are to be done shall be specified. 13.1.3 Zero of Tabulation The zero of tabulation for rainfall shall be 0.0 mm and this shall be entered. 13.1.4 Instrument This type of the instrument, the makers name, the number of the chart, its range, and the value of the least division of the chart scale shall be entered. A typical entry shall be : Natural Siphon Recording Raingauge, IMD, Chart No. DR- 1, range O-10 mm; 1 division= 0.5 mm. 13.1.5 Element The element to which tabulation refers shall be entered, namely, rainfall. 13.1.6 Unit The name of the unit in which the tabulations are made shall be entered here. The entry shall be complete. It shall be millimetres and tenths of rainfall. 13.1.7 The month and year to which the tabulation related shall be entered at the right-hand top comer. 13.2 The tabulation shall be correct to 0.1 mm as judged from the record.

12.1.1 In order to determine whether the instrument is suitably placed and is in good order the following points shall be ascertained:
a)

Whether there are any trees growing up, o! houses being built which are likely to affect the exposure, or whether it is likely to be flooded in the event of heavy rain; Whether the gauge is firmly fixed, so that it is not likely to be blown over; Whether the rim, when properly locked is level. As all gauges are made level when first erected, it may not be necessary to use a spirit level at the time of inspection. However, it shall be advantageous to do this check to ascertain that no obvious displacement of the raingauge has taken place; and Whether circular. the rim of the collector is truly

b) c)

d)

10

IS 8389:2003 13.3 The 25 columns, O to 24, shall be filled with the ho~r]y values picked up from the charts and they shall correspond to the respective hours. 13.3.1 It shall be noted that charts begin at O 800 h and end at O 900 h of the next day. Consequently two charts shall be required to complete the entries in one horizontal line. The rainfall between the hour 24 and hour 1 shall be entered under the column 1 of the respective date, that between hour 1 and hour 2 under the column 2 and so on till hour 7 and 8 the entry under column 9 shall be made referring to the end of the record of the first day and the beginning of the record on the second day. The entries shall be continued from the second chart until the rainfall collected between hour 23 and hour 24 are entered under the column 24. 13.3.2 The values recorded at midnight of any date shall be entered both against hour 24 of that date and hour 00 of the next day. 13.3.3 The sum(s) of the 24 hourly values for the hours 1 to 24 shall be entered in the column headed Raw Total. 13.3.4 The entry in the column S divided by 24 which gives the daily mean shall be entered in the column Mean, S/24 13.3.5 The maximum rainfall among all the hours of a day together with the hour in which it has occurred may be entered in the column entitled maximum reading in an hour and time. 13.3.6 The next column is meant for the total duration of rainfall in hours and minutes. If the total duration during which there was actual precipitation in 24 hours as judged from the recorded charts comes to, say 7 h 40 rein, this value shall be entered in this
column.

Starting of record Stopping of record

Time as Entered 0835 0840

Time as Shown On the Record 0845

0900

It will be seen that over and above a constant amount of 10 min by which the record is in advance of the actual time, there is also an error of 10 min in the rate of the clock. Therefore, the allowance on this account for 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,... . . . . . ..23.0 . . . . . . . . . . . ..08.09h . shall beabout Yz,l,11A,2 . . . . . . . . . . . ...6. 6% . . . . . . . . ..9!4. 10 rein, so that in order to obtain the values at 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 . . . . . . . . ...h. thejudgedtime lines 10 h 11 rein, llhllmin, 12hllmin,13hl lmin,14h 12min . . . . . ...23h 16min,0h 17min . . . ..O9h 19min, and 09 h 20 rein, should be used. 14 INSPECTORS RAINFALL KIT (MK II)

The Inspectors Rainfall Kit (MK 11) shal I be used for inspecting stations having recording type raingauge, in addition to the non-recording raingauge. It shall contain the following items in a compact waterproof canvas or other similar zip bag: a) b) c) d) e) f) Test gauges for 100 and 200 cm2 nonrecording raingauges; Test gauges for 325 recording raingauges; Spirit level; Folding type metal scale, 60 cm long; Measuring tape, 15 m long; Simple tools inchtding, pen knife, pliers, one small and one big screw driver, an adjustable wrench, a sheet of soft emery paper, a piece of steel wire of 30 cm length, etc; A few spares of the components of the recording raingauge including a spare pen assembly, a spare wire gauge filter, one or two glass discs, a few disc washers of fibre and brass for use over the glass disc, a few fibre washers cut to size for use between the float chamber and the siphon chamber, etc; A bottle of clock oil; A piece of duster cloth; and Assorted machine screws.
RAINFALL DATA:
Analysis of the data from

cm~ and

130 cm2

g)

13.3.7 Monthly sums of different hourly values shall be tabulated in the appropriate row of the form below the last daily tabulation. 13.4 Method of Applying Time Corrections Examine the trace to see whether the true time of starting and stopping the records correspond with the time picked up from the trace. If the difference is more than 5 min in 24 hours, then allowance shall be made for the rate of the clock. If owing to a wrong setting of the pen while starting the record the latter is bodily displaced then this should also be borne in mind while picking up the values from the chart,

h) j) k)
NOTE

stations is published by the Indian Meteorological Department in Indian Weather Review as a part of: The Annual Summer, Part A.

recording raingauges for the departmental

11

IS 8389:2003

ANNEX A (Ckwe
PROFORMA
Inspection Report

12.1.3)
REPORT

FOR INSPECTION

Received

from Inspector on Raingaugc (RRG) Station at Latitude N

Inspection I)istrict Longitude

Report of Recording

State E. Height above MSL

metres.

Inspected on By

Date of last inspection Date of following inspection

s1
V().
i) a)

[tern RRGsituated in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... (Mention exact place)

Retnat%s at Scrutinizing Ojjcei)

On plain land/hilly slope/hilly top/roof of a building b) ii) c) a) b) c) ii{) a) b) Name of the river catchmenti sub-catchrnent When was the RRG installed/ shifted to the present site Prescribed time(s) for changing the charts (1ST) Recorded charts sent to Intervals at which the recorded charts are sent Exposure (Is it good?) Nature of Its distance nearby object 1 c) I (d) in metres Its height (h) in metres hld Direction with respect to RRG

General remarks about surrounding area (if there are any trees growing up, or bui Idings being built that are likely to affect the exposure, give details as under (b) above. There should be no object like a tree or building in the neighborhood such that its height is greater than half its distance from the RRG, though some objects in conformity with the above may be present in order to mitigate the effects of wind. Mention special features if any. such as proximity to the sea or a river, sandy or rocky soil, etc. ) Mention whether a photograph or sketch or plan of the RRG is attached to this report. Whenever practicable this should be done

d)
il)

Condition of RRG a) Collector: I) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Number of the collector Make of the collector Material of the collector Is the rim horizontal? Height of rim above ground 1s rim dented?

~ scru[illizing

utlicc means the office of~he controlling authority to whom this report should be forwarded.

12

1S 8389:2003 sl
N()

Item 7) Rimdialneters (l) . . . . .. (2) . . . . . ..(3) . . . . . ..(4) . . . . . . . . . Mean . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8) ]sfunnel outlet tubcfirm and strong?

9) Is the funnel outlet tube clean and free from choking dust or dirt? 10) General condition of the collector 11) Collector tested for leak? b) Base 1) Material of the base 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) c) General condition of the base Is base firmly fixed to the,platform? Are drainage arrangements for water satisfactory?

Are locking hasp and stable in good order? Is the collector sitting on the base properly and easily?

Recording Mechanism I) Number

2) ,Make 3) General condition of the mechanism 4) Condition 5) Condition

ofthc wire gauge filter of the glass disc over the siphon tube leaking anywhere? the float chamber and

6) 1s mechanism 7) Condition

of the fibrc washer, between siphon chamber chamber

8) Condition

of the washer. between the float chamber and siuhon

9) Is the float in good order? 1o) IS there any evidence of leakage in the float? 11) Is the float position at the bottom of the chamber? 1~) IS siphoning

level correct?

13) 1s the float chamber cleaned? i1) Was float chamber clean? 15) Are siphon and discharge tubes cleaned? I6) Result ofirial siphoning

17) Number of the chin-t in use 18) [S the clock working satisfactorily?

hate . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..min/day
19) Condition

of{he nlb the day?

~~) Does the pen record on the zero Iinc all through when there is no

!,

rain (throughout)

S~ru!lr~t.,]irg o{licc means (hc aflicc ofthc couwolling authority to whom this report should be forwarded

13

IS 8389:2003

_ .s1 ,N(]. _ . 21 ) 22a) 22b)

\)

Ikv?l Time of siphoning (seconds) Where the axis of the clock workJdrum aligned properly. and the float rod are

Remarks at Scrutinizing O@el

Jf not, whether this has been reported to the concerned authorities . Number Make General condition (is it cleaned)? Capacity (mm of rain) 1s the measure class suitable for the RRG and corres~onds collector area of SRRG. Are graduations and figurings distinct? to the

Measure Glass a) b) c) d) e) o

vi)

Fence a) b) c) d) e) Dimensions of fence ( 1 x b x h)

Condition of fence Distance of non-recording raingaugc, from the RRG

Nearest distance of the fence from the RRG screen(s), Distance of the thcrmometeriinstrument instruments or obstructions likelv to vitiate the ex~osure. from the RRG. Condition of the gate of the fence Whether provided with lock and key? Other remarks other if anv.

f) g) h)
\ii)

staff a) b) c) d) e) t) ~) h) j) k) Are they conversant with the general working of the instrument? Have they received any training? Do they handle the instrument carefully and maintain it well? Are they rewlar in the timirw of chan~inx knowledge about using correct charts? Do thev perform regularlv the trial siphoning new record? of charts and

before starting the

Do they fill in all the entries on the chart regularly? Are the tabulations of the hourly rainfall up to date? Are the charts and tabulations sent regularly to proper authorities? Special instruments given, if any Other remarks

iiii)

Additional Remarks a) b) c) Have there been floods during which the RRG was submerged? Is the RRG at its m-esent site Iikelv to be submerged of flooding of the station? in the event

!..

Has there been any development/opening up of the cracks/joints in the ground or foundation masonrv of the RRG as a result of alternate freezing and thawing?

Scru[]nt/lllg (Iilicc Imeans [he office of the controlling au[horit} to whom this report should be forwarded.

14

IS 8389:2003 S1 i /V(). d) e) f) g) ix) a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) x)

I

Item Report on interview with superintendent special reference to the RRD or other authoritv with

Remurks at Scrutinizitlg Office 1)

Periods for which the past records are available and the authorities maintaining them Maintenance Publication(s) of present records including authority(ies) in which the rainfall data appears

Accessibility

and retrieval of data

Name of the station Latitude, Longitude, Height, m Code of station Code of basin Input data format compatible with Automatic data transfer to telemetry or teleforecasting Data compiled by Data checked by base station

1nspcctors recommendations) Summary of shortcomings noted (if any) and suggestions including for improvement: measure Xlass

xi)

Storm and instruments, and charts) a) b) c) Publications

suare Darts (particularly

[including technical manual(s)]

Stationery, spare pen and ink Other item

xii)

Orders, notes and action taken (to be filled by scrutinizing officer) Orders : Notes (including notes for next inspection) ,

~ Scrutinizing office means the office of the controlling authority to

) Recommendations

should include those

recommended a plan of the n~.v site

whom this report should be forwarded. for removalor reductionof heightof obstacles,if possible, or shifting of the RRG. If shifting is showing the proposed position of the RRG,non-recordingraingaugeand the neighboring objects,if

tiny,togetherwith their distance from the non-recording raingauge and their heights should be given.

15

Latlfucic: l{i~h mith Respect to klS1.:

Station : Instrument

Longtudc FJ:ame of Ki\ cr Catcl~rllctltstSub-catclli~letlt:

Element: Unit. Month: Year:

Standa[-d of Time : Zero of Tabulation : -

!Hoors

~
S. that is Raw Total

T
~lean ]

_. .
klaximunl

Reading in an
Hour and Finlc ~.

Duration of Rainfall Day

S/24

...
o

1+2.+3+
. ..+24

3 4

5 6

8 9

10

II

i2

13

14

15 I6
.

17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24
J.......

Reading

TInK

i- 1 2 3 4

-rt
I I
I

I I I

F 7
h
h4in
I

2 3

4 5

5 6 7 8 9
10 II 1~

+E

-t--

6
I

7 8 9
10 11

-t--

12 13

13


14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
4

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

26 27 28 29 30 31

Sum Curves read by: Arithmetic worked by:

Sum Reading checked by: Arithmetic checked by:

IS 8389:2003

ANNEX C (Foreword)
COMMITTEE COMPOSITION Sectional Committee, WRD 3

Ground Water and Related Investigation

Organization Central Ground Water Board, New Delhi
Centmi Electricity Authority, New Delhi

Representative(s)
SHRI D. K. CHADHA (Chairman) SHIU MAJOR SINGH SHRt S. B. ATRI

(Alternate)

Ccn!ral Ground Water Board, New Delhi

DR A. N. BHOWMIC~ SHRI SANTOSHKUMAR SHARMA(Mermue)

Cej]tral Pollut]on Control Board, New Delhi Central %11 & Material Research Station, New Delhi Centml Soil Salinity Research Institute, Kamal Central Water Commission. New Delhi

SHRI T. VENUGOPAL SHRIMATI MITA SHARMA(Alternate) DIRECTOR SHRI N. K. VERMA (Alternate) DR S. K. GUPTA CHIEF ENGINEER (YAMUNA BASIN) SUPEPJNTENOINGNGINEER(PLANNINGCIRCLE) (Aherna/e) E

Central Water & Power Research Station, Pune Ccntre for Water Resources Development Gcmloglcal Survey of India, Lucknow Ground Water Surveys & Development Gujamt Water Resources Development India ,Mcterological Department, Agency, Pune Corporation, Gandhinagar & Management, Kerala

DR N. GHOSH
SHRI R. S. RAMTERA(Alternate)

DR E. J. JAMES
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR(Alternate) SHRI S. KUMAR SHP.I Y. DEVA SHRI F. J. JADHAV SHRI S. P. BAGOE (Alternate) SHRI V.

(Alternate)

V. AYACHJT (Alternate)

SHIO A. A. KHAN

New Delhi of Kamataka of Maharashtra of Punjab of Uttar Pradesh

DR J. K. KHANNA
SENIORGEOLOGIST SUPERINTENDINGNGINEER E CHIEF ENGINEER DIRECTOR (Alternate)

Irrigation Department, lrngatlon Department.

Government Government Government Government

Irriga[]on Department, Irngatlon Department,

CHIEF ENGINEER SUPERINrENOINGNGINEER E (Alternate)

Ministry of Environment

& Forests, New Delhi Department, Government of

AOVISOR DR (SHRIMATI)NALINI BHAT

(Ahernu(e)

Narmada & Water Resources Gujam(

DIRECTOR (GERI)

Na~ional Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning, Nagpur National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Roorkee Ltd, Faridabad

DHSELTOR DR G. DHAWAN SHRI N. K. MATHUR

(Alternate)

Na(ional lnstltute of Hydrology, ~a[lc)llal Renlote sensing

DR A. K. BHAR SHRI N. C. GHOSH (Ahernate)

Agency. Hyderabad

SHRI P. R. REVEW
SHRI R. CHAKRABORTY BRIG M. GOPAL RAO SHRI R.

River Research Institute, West Bengal Survey of India, New Delhi waler TCCImology BIS Directorate Centre for Eastern Region. Bhubaneshwar

M. TRIPATHY(Alterna[e)

DR S. R. SINGH
SHRI R. C. SRIVASTAVA(Alternate) SHRI S. S. SETHI, Director & Head (WRD)

General

[Representing Member Secretaty SHRI R. S. JUNEIA Joint Director (WRD), BIS

Director General

(Ex-oficio)]

18

Bureau of Indian Standards established under the Bureau BIS is a statutory institution harmonious development of the activities of standardization, and attending to connected matters in the country. Copyright
BIS has the copyright of all its publications. No part of these publications may be reproduced in any form without the prior permission in writing of BIS. This does not preclude the free use, in the course of implementing the standard, of necessary details, such as symbols and sizes, type or grade designations. Enquiries relating to copyright be addressed to the Director (Publications), BIS.

oflrrdian marking

StandardsAct, 1986 to promote and quality certification of goods

Review of Indian Standards

are issued to standards as the need arises on the basis periodically; a standard along with amendments is reaffirmed when needed; if the review indicates that changes are needed, it is taken should ascertain that they are in possession of the latest amendments BIS Catalogue and Stmdards: Monthly Additions. Amcmdmcnts

of comments. Standards are also reviewed such review indicates that no changes are up for revision. Users of Indian Standards or edition by referring to the latest issue of

This Indian Standard has been developed

from Doc : No. WRD 3 (282).

Amendments Amend No.

Issued Since Publication Date of Issue Text Affected

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS !Ieadquarters : Telegrams: Manaksanstha (Common to all offices) Telephone 23237617 { 23233841 23378499,23378561 { 23378626,23379120 603843 { 609285 22541216,22541442 { 22542519,22542315 r2832 9295,28327858 128327891,28327892

Manak Bhavan, 9 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110002 Telephones :23230131,23233375,2323 9402 Regional Offices : Central : Manak Bhavan, 9 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg NEW DELHI 110002 : 1/14 C.1.T. Scheme VII M, V. I. P. Road, Kankurgachi KOLKATA 700054 : SCO 335-336, Sector 34-A, CHANDIGARH 160022

Eastern

Northern

Southern

: C.I.T. Campus, IV Cross Road, CHENNAI

600113

Western

: Manakalaya, E9 MlDC, Marol, Andheri (East) MUMBAi 400093

Branches

: AHMEDABAD. BANGALORE. BHOPAL. BHUBANESHWAR, COIMBATORE. FARIDABAD. GHAZIABAD. GUWAHATI. HYDERABAD, JAIPUR. KANPUR. LUCKNOW. NAGPUR. NALAGARH. PATNA. PUNE. RAJKOT. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. VISAKHAPATNAM,
Printed at Prabhat Offset
l%ess. New Delhi-2