Rainfall variability trial 2021

Hart regional intern, Declan Anderson, measuing rainfall at Hart Hart rainfall gauge

"How much rain did you get...?"

It's a common question, but the answer is sometimes perplexing.

Your neighbour got 16 mm, yet you only got 10 mm.

Why is that - were they were exaggerating? Is your rain gauge broken?

We regularly hear growers expressing uncertainty around the varying amount of rainfall recorded across short to medium distances and we've also noticed variation across our own site at Hart.

So we set up a very simple trial to track how much variation occurs.

We've presented that data in some really easy to interpret, colour coded maps (thanks Declan!).

You can click on any image on this page to enlarge it.

Setting the scene:
► The Hart site is 40 ha
► Eleven manual rain gauges have been placed across the site to get a representative sampling area (indicated by the red dots on the image below). These gauges have been calibrated to one another so readings are as accurate and consistent as possible
► Our trial also includes the digital recordings of the Mid North Mesonet (indicated by the green dot on the image below)
Hart Rainfall Variability Trial 2021 - rainfall gauge locations
► Rainfall is recorded as a rainfall 'event', not necessarily a per day recording
► Rainfall is measured as soon as possible after an event to limit atmospheric losses
► Recorded measurements are added into a GIS program, where they are interpolated into the maps displayed below (keep scrolling)
► Rainfall recorded earlier in the season (January to mid-March) does not include all current rainfall gauge locations

Rainfall variability trial 2021

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