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How to Make a Precipitation Instrument

A precipitation instrument is any instrument that can be used to measure precipitation, or rain. The most common precipitation instruments are rain gauges. These devices are placed outside and used to collect and measure rainfall. The data from a precipitation instrument can be combined with data taken from other instruments, such as wind speed measuring devices, to present an accurate picture of the local weather over a period of time. A precipitation instrument can be made at home using a few household items.

Things You'll Need

Plastic bottle
Small stones or pebbles
Tape
Marker pen
Ruler
Small saw

Instructions

- 1
  Cut off the top of the plastic bottle by sawing in an even line near the top.
- 2
  Put some stones in the bottom of the bottle, enough to cover the bottom.
- 3
  Turn the top of the bottle upside down and place it in the bottle, forming a funnel. Tape it to the bottle. This will ensure that all water that falls on the instrument gets collected and will keep the water inside from evaporating before it can be measured.
- 4
  Use the ruler and marker pen to make a scale on the bottle. You may want to make marks at 1-inch intervals, or you may want to use smaller segments, such as centimeters. Make the first mark above the rocks.
- 5
  Pour water into the bottle. Ensure that it reaches the bottom strip on the scale.
- 6
  Place your rain gauge outside where it will collect water during rain. After a rain shower is over, check how far up the scale the water has risen.

Nature