Department of Revenue,Rehabilitation and Disaster Management
Government of Punjab, India
Chapter 12 of Punjab Land Records Manual.
RAIN-GAUGES, RAINFALL AND SNOW FALL
Replaces Standing Order No.37, Original issue dated 11thJune, 1909, revised issue dated 9th April 1915, first reprint, dated 5th August 1930, Second reprint, dated 20th August 1930.
REFERENCE MAY BE MADE TO THE PARAGRAPH 816, LAND ADMINISTRATION MANUAL.
12.1 The rainfall organization - The registration of the rainfall of the Punjab is under the control of the Director of Land Records The duties of controlling officer, as specified in the Meteorological Department circular or rainfall, are :-
(a) The suitable distribution of rain gauge
stations so that the rainfall of the province is
properly represented.
(b) The choice of suitable sites for the gauges.
(c) The issue of rain-gauges and measuring
glasses by countersigning indents on the
National Instruments Institute, which will
not, as a rule, supply a rain-gauge unless the
indent is countersigned by the controlling
officer.
(d) The collection of data.
(e) The preparation of rainfall statement for
publication in the official Gazette.
In cases of doubt as to the desirability of starting new gauges and changing the sites of old ones, the Director-General of Observatories should be consulted.
In the later case a site plan showing the distance and bearing of the new site with respect to the old one should be sent.
12.2 Under Whose charge placed - Rain-gauges at the headquarters of a district should be placed in charge of the Assistant to the District Kanungo, or other clerk, as may be convenient in each case. Those at tehsils should be in charge of the Tahsil Office Kanungo.
12.3 Pattern of Rain gauge - Except at canal stations, in respect of which the irritation Department issues its own instructions. the rain gauges in use are of non-recording Fibreglass.
12.4 Locality of rain gauge - It has been found that a rain-gauge exposed on a perfectly open space registers less than the true amount of rain This arises because the wind forms an eddy over the mouth of the gauge and carries away samll drops that would otherwise have entered the gauge. Accordingly a certain amount of protection from the wind is advantageous : at the same time no obstacle should be so near to the gauge as actually shield it from rain which may be falling at a considerable angle.
The following rule has been found to be most satisfactory in practice :-
"The distance between the gauge and nearest
object should be at least twice the heights of
that object."
If this rule is followed the presence of trees and bushes in the neighbourhood of a gauge is rather to be encouraged than otherwise : but (as trees may be allowed to grow without being effectively lopped) no tree should be planted within thirty yards of the gauge.
The gauge should never bve situated on the side or top of a hill if a suitable site on level ground can be found. In the hills, where it is difficult to find a level space, the site for the gauge should be chosen where it is best shielded from high winds, and where the wind does not cause eddies.
*Only under very exceptional circumstances should a gauge be exposed on a roof.
If it is impossible to choose a site in conformity with the above stipulations a detailed report shold be made to the controlling officer, and his sanction obtained to erecting the gauge in teh abnormal site proposed.
12.5 Erection of the gauge - A masonry or concrete foundation for the gaugse shold be provided, the best from being a cube of 600 mm sides sunk into the ground so that its top is just 50 mm. above the general level of the ground. Into this foundation the base of the gauge is firmly cemented, so that the top of the complete gauge is exactly 300 mm. above the ground level. Great care must be taken when setting the gauge to ensure that the mouth is perfectly level. The horizontality should be checked with a Spirit level laid accross the rim.
* It is not intended that all the gauges now on roofs should be at once removed to ground sites. Oppurtunities should, however, be taken as they arise for effecting a change for example, when an office is removed from one building to another, or when a site on a roof becomes unsuitable.
12.6 Protection of gauge - It is often desirable to protect the gauge from being damaged by cattle, and for this purpose a fence may be erected around it. This can be made of any suitable material, but is must be of such a size that the tope of the fence is not higher above the mouth of the gauge than half its distance from the gauge (see paragraph 12.4 above)
It is also desirable to keep the rain-gauge locked and to have it painted periodically to prevent its surface from corroding. The National Instruments Limited can supply rain-gauges with locking arrangements.
12.7 Measurement of the rainfall - To measure the rainfall the water in the receiver is poured into the glass measuring cylinder which is to be placed on a level surface. The eye is then brought into horizontal line with the bottom of the menicus, the curved surface of the water, and its reading taken. Each of the graduations on this cylinder represents 0.2 mm. rainfall and the observer must count the number of the divisions covered by the water. In order to facilitate this, numbers are engraved on the glass at 1,2,3,4, etc. ; divisions. If the water comes up to the third division above the line marked 2 the rain fall is 2.6mm. In writing up the amount recorded the observer has simply to put the number of milimeters in front of a decimal point, and double the number of division after it. Thus if he has measured one mm, and three divisions, he writes 1.6mm. The observer will make no mistake if he always writes one figure after the decimal point.
If there is more water in the receiver than the measureglass will hold, the glass should be filled nearly up to the top graduation mark and the reading taken. This water should then be thrown away and the aboe process repeated till all the water collected has been measured. The total rainfall is the sum of all these measurements. Thus if the measure-glass holds 20mm. i.e., and the amounts measured are 19.0,18.0 and 17.0mm. the total rainfall is 19.0+18.0+17.0 mm. or 54.0mm.
The rainwater in the gauge should be measured every day at 8.30 AM and the raingauge should be examined every day at that hour even when in the observer's opinion no rain has fallen. During heavy rains it must be measured three or four times in the day, lestthe receiver fills and overflows; but the last measurement should be taken at 8.30 A.M. and the sum total of all the measurements during the previous 24 hours entered as the rainfall of the day.
If it is raining at the time of observation, it is necessary, to complete the operations as quickly as possible to avoid considerable error.
The receiving bottle, as a rule, does not hold more than 200 mm. of rain.
Snow and frozen rain water -When the receiver contains or frozen rain water, the amounts or percipitation can only be measured by converting the contents into water. To do this a definite amount of very warm water should be accurately measured into the measuring glass, and then added to the contents of the receiver, through the funnel(which may contain a certain amount of frozen water). The quantity of water added should be sufficient, or a little more than sufficient, tomelt all the ice. The exact measurement of the ice in the receiver is thus obtained by substracting the amount of warm water added from the total amount measured i.e. the total contents of the receiver, after all the ice has has been melted by the addition of a known quantity of warm water.
12.8 Breakage of the measure-glass - It is desirable that every raingauge station should be supplied by the local authority with an extra measureglass. When the measure-glass in regular use is broken the spare measure-glass should be at the same time indented for in the manner prescribed in paragraph 12.9 below.
If it should heappen that the measure glass at any station, not provided with a spare one, should be broken, the following arrangement should be made for the measurement of the rainfall during the interval between the breakage of the measuring glass and the arrival of a new measure-glass should be temporarly used to measure the rainfall(the measurement being recorded in the monthly return in fluid cc.)until the broken measure-glass is replaced. In such a case care must be gaken to strike out the printed word "milimeters"and to substitute "cc."which must be clearly and boldly written. In the even of the measure-glass being broken and a cc measure-glass not being procurable , the rainfall collected on each day must be stored up in a separate bottle and kept corked. Each bottle containing the rainfall for each particular day should be labelled. and on receipt of a new measure-glass the rainfall can be measured and entered as usual.
200 cc. of water is equal to 10 mm. of rain.
12.9 Supply of rain gauges and measure-glasses - All rain gauges and measure-glasses, etc. required at rain-gauge stations in India are supplioed bvy the National Instruments Limited, Calcutta, the responsibility for their accuracy rests, however, with the Meterological Department, who test them before they are issued. Price list of rain-gauges, etc. rules and regulations and indent forms are obtainable from the National Instruments Office.
Whenever a rain-gauge or measure-glass is required at any station, an indent from (page 11) should be obtained from the controlling officer, and after being filled in should be returned to him for countersignature. The indent will be forwarded by the controlling officer to the National Instruments Limited, who will on its receipt send the rain-gauge or measure-glass, etc. direct to the station requiring it, and will recover the cost from the local authority singing the indent unless otherwise directed. The form of indent and the instructions for its preparation are printed as Appendix B.
12.10 Miscelleneous expenditure connected with rain-guages - All expenditure in connection with the erection, repairs and removal of raingauges under the control of Deputy Commissioners should be debited to the head "9-Land Revenue-D-Land Records-District Charges-Contigencies-Miscellaneous".
12.11 Inspection of rain-guages - It is of great importance that rain-guages should be inspected as the observers often allow large changes to take place in the exposure of a guage without being aware that action is necessary.
The object of the inspecting officer should be to determine –
(a) Whether the instrument is suitably placed and is in good order :
(b) Whether the observer can make the rainfall measurements correctly and enter them properly in the rainfall records;
(c) Whether the rainfall records are properly and neatly kept up and are in good order;
(d) Whether the observer makes his measurements at 8.30AM; and
(e) Whether any part of the rain-guage requires repair or replacement.
In order to determine whether the instrument is suit
ably placed and in thoroughly good order he should ascertain-
(1) Whether there are any trees growing up or houses being built wgucg are likely to affect the exposure;
(2) whether the gauge is firmly fixed, so that it is not likely to be blown over;
(3) whether the rim, when pressed home, is level. As all gauges are made level when first erected it will not be necessary for the Inspector to use spirit level. He will only need to see that no obvious displacement of the gauge has taken place.
(4) Whether the rim or mouth of the funnel is circular. All gauges are accurately measured before being issued, and unless the rim is obviously damaged or out of shape, it is not necessary to measure the diameters.
In order to ascertain whether the observer can measure the rainfall accurately and make entries correctly, the glass receiver should be partially filled two or three times with different quantities if water and observer required to measure them and write down the entries. If he can do this correctly, nothing further is necessity; if not, the inspecting officer should teach him fully.
The Inspector should also see that the rainfall book, prescribed in paragraph 12.14, is in good condition and the entries in it carefully and neatly made. He should also verify that the rainfall observer knows how to make entries in the various rainfall returns.
12.12 New rain-gauges - Applications by District Officers for sanction to establish a new rain-gauge or transfer or abolish an existing one, should be submitted to the Director of Land Records. They should be accompanied by a map of the district showing the rain-gauge stations and should give detailed reasons for the proposals made. Before sanctioning a new gauge, the Director of Land Records should obtain the assent of the Director-General of Observations thereto, and in all cases he should send to the Director of Agriculture a copy of the orders passed. It may be added that as the State already possesses an adequate number of rain-gauge stations for meterological purposes, sanction for the erection of new gauges will be very sparingly accorded.
12.13 Observatories under the direct control of the Government of India - Appended is a list of meterological observatories which are under the direct control of the Meterological Department of the Government of India. If any rain-gauge or measure-glass at one of these observatories is found to be defective by an inspecting officer, he should not order it to be replaced, but should report the matter to the Meterological Department of the Government of India.
List.Observatories
- Adampur (Air force)
- Amritsar
- Bhatinda
- Ferozepore
- Jullundhar
- Pathankot (Air Force)
- Patiala
- Ludhiana
- Halwara (Air Force).
12.14 Register of rainfall At each rainfall station there should be kept in the form given below, a strongly bound book, for the due care of which the rainfall observer should be held responsible :-
Meterological Register kept in the office of the __________of _________for the month of _____________19.
Date | Day of Week | RAINFALL 24 HOUR | Remarks
| | PRECEDING 8.30 AM|
| | Milimeters |
-------|------------------|-----------------------------|---------------
1 | 2 | 3 | 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Note .- Falls so slight as not to admit of measurement should be denoted in the register by the letter R.
The record of the rainfall at that station from the commencement of observations or in continuation of it should be kept in this "Rainfall Book", and the entries ini it should be made as neatly as possible, and every care should be taken for its preservation.
12.15 At the headquarters of a district the Sadr Kanungo will keep a register in the form given below in which he will enter daily(a) all rainfall observed by himself at the rain-gauge in his charge, if any, an (b) all rainfall recorded at outstations. The rainfall recorded at outstations will be reported, on each day on which rainfalls, to him by postcard. It is unnecessary for the Sadr Kanungo to keep up the register prescribed in para 12.14.
DISTRICT
REGISTER OF RAINFALL FOR THE MONTH OF ____
(N.B.- Enter rainfall in milimetersm using English
numerals)
RAIN-GAUGE STATIONS IN THE DISTRICT
Date | ------- | Remarks
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12.16 Monthly return - A monthly statement of a rainfall should be prepared by the Deputy Commissioner in duplicate in the form printed as Appendix C and despatched not later than the 5th of the following month – one copy to the Commissioner and one copy to the Director of Land Records. No copy of the return should be kept in the Deputy Commissioner's office. The Sadr Kanungo's register prescribed in paragraph 12.15 will supply all the information that may at any time be required. The remarks recorded by the Deputy Commissioner in the monthly sttement should be copied in the register.
If more than one rain-gauge is kept at any station, the nentries in ther egister should show only the data of one gauge.
The following matters should be noticed under the different heads in the column of remarks :-
(1) The extent and effect of rainfall, if any, during
the month, and the proportion of sowings made, i.e., whether ½, ¾ ir 5/6 etc., of the expected sowings.
(2) The state of the standing crops all over the
district.
(3) The probable outturn-average, good or bad; and in months when crops are being harvested, the estimated outturn of each important crop in detail for leading classes of soil.
(4) The condition of the healthy stock with reference to the amount and description of fodder and grazing available. Cattle disease, only so far as it affects agricultural operations.
(5) Any disease in towns or villages, if it affects agriculture operations.
(6) The supply in canals, the sufficiency or deficiency of floods from rivers or torrents, and whether the normal area under each class has been irrigated.
12.17 Reports from canal rain-gauges - Reports of rainfall are received from canal rain gauge stations direct by the Director of Land Records, for inclusion in the Punjab Gazette. The Director of Land Records is, with the concurrence of the Chief Engineer, Irrigation Branch, empowered to add to the number of such stations.
12.18 Deputy Commissioners will arrange to have each rain-gauge inspected twice a year by an ofifcer of rank not below that of Extra Assistant Commissioner. The points to which attention should be directed are indicated below. If any serious defect is found, it should be reported to the Director of Land Records. Defects should be remedied at once under the Deputy Commissioner's orders. The practice of reporting the results of inspection by postcard to the Meterological Department to the Government of India, and to the Director of Land Records will be discontinued.
POINTS REQUIRING ATTENTION
(1) Is exposure of raingauge good ? Distrance between gauge and neighbouring object should be at least twice the height of that object.
(2) Are any trees growing up or houses being built which are likely to affect the exposure ?
(3) Is rain gauge firmly fixed in ground ? How is it fixed ?
(4) Is mouth of funnel 300 mm. above ordinary level of ground ?
(5) Is mouth of funnel approximately level ?
(6) Is rim of funnel circular, or does it appear to be indented or distorted?
(7) Are measuring glasses and receiver clean ?
(8) Test observer to see if he can measure correctly.
(9) Has rainfall been accurately measured at the fixed hour, i.e. 8.30 A.M., since last inspection ?
(10) Are rainfall records properly and neatly kept up?
12.19 Report on the working of rain gauges - The Deputy Commissioners and the Superintending Engineers in charge of Irrigation Circles will submit to the Director of Land Records on the 20th April, for the preceding financial year, a very brief report on the working of the rain registration system. The reports on gauges in the charge of anal Officers will be sent by Executive Engineer by the 10th April, who will submit a consolidated report for his circle to the Director of Land Records by the 20th April. The Director will then compile and submit the State report to the Deputy Director-General of Observatories, Poona, by the 15th May.
12.20 Supply of printed forms - Printed forms of the monthly rainfall Return and of the district register can be obtained on indent from the Controller, Printing & Stationery, Punjab, Chandigarh.
12.21 Deleted.
12.22 Deleted.
12.23 Deleted.
12.24 Deleted.
APPENDIX A. Deleted.
APPENDIX B
On Indenting for Raingages
(a) The National Instrument Limited, Calcutta supplies not only complete rain-gauges, but also the component parts. It often happens that only a part of a guage is damaged and in such case a new part, not a new guage, should be ordered. There are two main parts to a gauge besides the rain receiving bottle and these are shown in figure 1. The correct names of these parts are -
(i) Top part (Collector)
(ii) Receiver
(iii) Bottom part (Base)
In ordering it is only necessary to specify the part required by these names, and then unless it is definitely stated that the part is required for an exceptional gauge, it will be supplied to fit a standard five inch gauge.
(b) In forwarding indents to the National Instrument Limited it is important that the instructions for filling up the indent should be strictly followed. IF this is not done unnecessary delay and correspondence results. The indent form is attached.
The entries are to be as follows :-
Column (3) – In this column it must be clearly stated whether a complete guage or only a part is required. In the latter case the correct name as given in paragraph (a) above must be used.
Columns (4 to 6) – These columns should be filled in with the information required.
Column Book transfer (Vide top of Indent Form Cash payment "A")
The cost of gauges and measuring glasses issued to official rain-gauge stations will in practically all cases be recovered by "book transfer".
APPENDIX C
Monthly Rainfall Return of the ________Distt.
for the month of _________19.
Paragraph 12.16 of Chapter 12.
RAIN GAUGE STATION IN THE DISTICT | REMARKAS
----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. The extent and effect of
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | rainfall , and the progress
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | in sowing.
Date | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2. The condition of crops.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3. The expected yield - At
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | harvest time, note the
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | estimated outtun of each
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | important crop in detail
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | for the leading classes of
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | soil.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4. The condition of cattle,
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | the amount and descri-
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ption of fodder and gra-
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | zing available.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5. The state of Public health
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6. The working of the canal
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | and the sufficiency and
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | seasonableness of river
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | in undations, or of floods
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | from hill torrents.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7. General matters.
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29 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
30 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
31 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total|
Number | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
of rainy days | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
number | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
of rainy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
days | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total rain | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
fall for | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
the month| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
rainfall | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
for the | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
month | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Heaviest | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
rainfall | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
during the | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
month | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total rain | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
fall from | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
October | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
upto | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Averag | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
rainfall | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
from | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
October | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
upto | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Note : (1) The rainfall should be shown in millimeters to one place of decimal.
(2) The names of stations should be written in the same order as these
are published in the Local Gazette.
(3) The enteries opposite marginal Headings marked * will be made
from the data supplied by the office of the Director of Land Recor-
ds, Punjab.
(4) A day with 2.5 millimeters (or 10 cents) or more should be counted
as rainy day.
(5) The figures should be in the international form of Indian numerals
(1,2,3, etc,) and should be written up legibly in ink.
(6) (a) If the rainfall observations are not taken on any day for any reas-
on , the fact should be cleanly indiciated by the symbol "X" in the
appropraite columns(date and month) of the statement.
(a) The word 'Nil' should be written up only when the rainfall recorded is Nil, i.e. when there is no rainfall on any day.
(7) The statement should reach the office of Director of Land Records,
Punjab, not later than the 5th of the month following that to which it
relates.
Dated Deputy Commissioner
Hon'ble Revenue Minister
Sh. Hardip Singh Mundian
Hon’ble Minister-In-Charge, Department of Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management
Sh. Anurag Verma, IAS
Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management