Use of an optical rain gauge in a system of monitoring severe weather phenomena

Abstract

Phenomena of convective origin (tornadoes, squalls, thunderstorms, heavy precipitation, and large hail) occur more often than the other natural phenomena causing huge economic damage. Analysis of weather events in recent years shows that the most dangerous meteorological phenomena in the Russian Federation (40% of total events) are extreme rainfall events (heavy rain, long rain, shower, hail, and thunderstorm). Modern systems for environmental research, monitoring, and prompt detection of severe weather phenomena must contain instruments for precipitation measurement that meet modern requirements for quantity and quality of meteorological information. Liquid precipitation measurements require receiving the following real time information: presence of precipitation, intensity (mm/h), start time and duration of precipitation, and total amount per day (mm). The measuring instrument must determine the type of precipitation (rain, snow, hail/large hail, mixed precipitation) with accuracy comparable to the results of visual observation. In addition, the device must provide an autonomy operation as part of autonomous meteorological systems (without any maintenance) and means of remote transmission, storage, and processing of measurement data with various averaging times and sets of measured characteristics. An optical precipitation gauge called OPTIOS, developed at IMCES SB RAS, fully complies with these requirements.