Next year, all volunteer precipitation observers from the KNMI will receive a new hand rain gauge. The old gauges are due for replacement. Moreover, these new gauges are easier to use, enabling observers to better contribute to collecting valuable precipitation data in the Netherlands.
Volunteer precipitation observers play an important role in measuring precipitation. They do this every day from their own garden or surroundings. The data they collect is used by the KNMI to map precipitation amounts in various locations across the Netherlands. This helps in making weather forecasts and conducting climate research.
New Hand Rain Gauges
The hand rain gauges that volunteers are using this year are in need of replacement. The old gauges have reached the end of their lifespan and are being replaced to ensure the quality of measurements. The new gauges meet all requirements from the World Meteorological Organization and are more ergonomically designed.
The KNMI has extensively tested both the old and new hand rain gauges. Additionally, for the next two years, measurements will be taken at eight locations using both the old and new gauges to compare observations. This is important to understand any potential differences between the gauges.
Accurate Precipitation Measurement
A hand rain gauge accurately measures how much rain falls. Every morning just before nine oclock (an hour later in summer), more than 300 volunteers manually read the rain gauge and measure the height of any snow using a ruler. They also report if hail has been observed. The volunteers submit their measurements digitally to the KNMI daily.
Dense Network
The observations from volunteer precipitation observers are very important for the KNMI. From their own garden or nearby surroundings, they collect information about precipitation. Volunteer observers are spread throughout the Netherlands. Thanks to them, the KNMI has a dense network of observations in addition to the automatic weather stations.
These observations allow scientists to better understand how our climate is changing and where extreme rainfall occurs more frequently. This is crucial for better preparedness against events like flooding.