UK Citizen Rainfall Network: a pilot study

Samuel Michael Illingworth,Rosemarie Graves,Lee Chapman,Catherine Louise Muller

doi:10.1002/wea.2244

Samuel Michael Illingworth, Rosemarie Graves + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1002/wea.2244

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Abstract

Chan PW, Hon KK, Foster S. 2011. Wind data collected by a fixed-wing aircraft in the vicinity of a tropical cyclone over the south China coastal waters. Meteorol. Z. 20: 313–321. Haverdings H, Chan PW. 2010 . Quick Access Recorder (QAR) data analysis software for windshear and turbulence studies. J. Aircr. 47: 1443–1447. International Civil Aviatio n Organization. 2010. Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation, Annex 3 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, 206 pp. Met Office. 1980. Handbook of Meteorological Instruments, Volume 1 –Measurement of Atmospheric Pressure, Second Edition. HMSO: London. Velden C, Harper B, Wells F et al. 2006. The Dvorak tropical cyclone intensity estimation technique, a satellite-based method that has endured for over Correspondence to: P. W. Chan

Highlights

As well as improving the coverage of the current network of rain gauges, and the potential application to forecasting, nowcasting, satellite and radar verification, flood-warning systems and decision making, a community rainfall-collection scheme in the UK would have the additional benefit of encouraging citizens to become involved in meteorological science, thereby heightening their awareness of weather, and engaging the public by participating in actual scientific research
To act as an additional incentive to those involved in the UK Citizen Rainfall Network (UCRaiN) project, it was advertised that there would be prizes awarded to the schools that provided the most consistent sets of data
Project proved to be an excellent example of an outreach activity that caught the interest and imagination of those involved. An example of this was the novel way in which the participating schools adapted their rain gauges to face the difficulties presented by the jelly: the original purpose of the jelly was to act as a ‘levelling agent’, to provide a flatter base from which the scale could be read, thereby improving the accuracy of the measurements

Summary

Introduction

UK Citizen Rainfall Network provide daily and ‘extreme event’ precipitation measurements (Cifelli et al, 2005). As well as improving the coverage of the current network of rain gauges, and the potential application to forecasting, nowcasting, satellite and radar verification, flood-warning systems and decision making, a community rainfall-collection scheme in the UK would have the additional benefit of encouraging citizens to become involved in meteorological science, thereby heightening their awareness of weather, and engaging the public by participating in actual scientific research.

Results

Conclusion