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A solid-liquid phase precipitation metering device Item Info

A need for a precipitation metering device capable of discriminating between solid and liquid phases of precipitation initiated this research project. A literature search revealed no existing instrument capable of performing this function; however, references were found to certain schemes which, with modifications, could possibly be adapted as a solution to this problem. An optical scheme was selected for further research because this type of system requires no mechanical motion, thus avoiding icing problems likely to be encountered in the operational environment, and because luminous radiation and electricity are energy forms which are easily transducible from one form to the other. A photosensitive device was used to determine the relative light attenuant and reflective effects of the precipitation particle types. With certain geometric restrictions it was found that the reflective properties of snow are of a sufficient degree of magnitude greater than those of rain to enable the development of a system sensitive to the presence of snow and not rain. Optical attenuant characteristics of the snow and rain particles were found to be similar in degree of magnitude of photosensitive device response. A prototype system employing both reflective and attenuant effects of the particles was developed and shown to be capable of detection and identification of both precipitation phases. This system is recommended as a solution to this problem.

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Title:
A solid-liquid phase precipitation metering device
Authors:
Read, John Carlton
Date Created (ISO Standard):
1966-06
Description:
A need for a precipitation metering device capable of discriminating between solid and liquid phases of precipitation initiated this research project. A literature search revealed no existing instrument capable of performing this function; however, references were found to certain schemes which, with modifications, could possibly be adapted as a solution to this problem. An optical scheme was selected for further research because this type of system requires no mechanical motion, thus avoiding icing problems likely to be encountered in the operational environment, and because luminous radiation and electricity are energy forms which are easily transducible from one form to the other. A photosensitive device was used to determine the relative light attenuant and reflective effects of the precipitation particle types. With certain geometric restrictions it was found that the reflective properties of snow are of a sufficient degree of magnitude greater than those of rain to enable the development of a system sensitive to the presence of snow and not rain. Optical attenuant characteristics of the snow and rain particles were found to be similar in degree of magnitude of photosensitive device response. A prototype system employing both reflective and attenuant effects of the particles was developed and shown to be capable of detection and identification of both precipitation phases. This system is recommended as a solution to this problem.
Subjects:
precipitation
IWRRI number:
196603
Rights:
Rights to the digital resource are held by the University of Idaho. http://www.uidaho.edu/
Publisher:
University of Idaho
Contributing Institution:
University of Idaho
Type:
Text
Format:
application/pdf
Cataloger:
Jodi Haire
Date Digitized:
2008-04-24

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Source
Preferred Citation:
"A solid-liquid phase precipitation metering device", Idaho Waters Digital Library, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections, https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/iwdl/items/iwdl-196603.html
Rights
Rights:
Rights to the digital resource are held by the University of Idaho. http://www.uidaho.edu/
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