The rain gauge was invented in Korea in 1441 by King Sejong the Great to help measure rainfall and determine taxes for farmers. It consists of an outer cylinder and measuring tube that collects rainfall to the hundredth of an inch. Modern rain gauges include standard meteorological gauges, graduated cylinders, tipping buckets, and universal weighing gauges used by the National Weather Service.

1. Rain Gauges

2. HistoryThe son of king Sejong the great, who was the leader of the Choson dynasty from 1418 to 1450, invented the first rain gauge. Droughts began to kill the kingdom and king Sejong directed every village to measure the amount of rainfall. The new king Munjong invented the rain gauge while he was measuring rain at this palace. Munjong thought it to be easier to check rain levels by using a standard container rather then digging into the earth. The king sent his new invention to every town and used the data collected to determine what the taxes of the farmers should be. The rain gauge was invented the fourth month of 1441. 200 years later Christopher wren claimed to be the inventor of the rain gauge in 1642.

3. What the rain gauge does. The rain gauge measures the amount of liquid precipitation that falls. It can measure either rain or, the liquid equivalent of snow.

4. How it works The rain gauge has an outer cylinder, a measuring tube, and a funnel. The measuring tube measures to a hundredth inch. When it is full, it contains one inch of rain. When more than one inch falls, the extra rain flows into the outer cylinder. Pouring the rain from the outer cylinder back into the measuring tube, a total rainfall amount can be accurately measured. When snow is measured you have to bring the entire gauge into a warm room, so the snow can melt. Then repeat the steps above.

5. Types of rain gaugesStandard meteorological gaugesGraduated cylinderTipping bucket rain gauge

6. National weather service forecast offices Universal Weighing Rain Gauge.

7. Work Citedhttp://www.colby.edu/cpse/equipment2/Weather/gauge.htmlhttp://climate.met.psu.edu/www_prod/data/frost/frosttraining.phphttp://www.ehow.com/facts_4963861_rain-gauge-facts.htmlhttp://www.erh.noaa.gov/aly/COOP/Equipment/UWG.htmhttp://inventors.about.com/od/rstartinventions/a/Rain_Gauge.htm