| Term: | Standpipe storage precipitation gauge |
| Definition: |
A precipitation gauge comprising a tall pipe 30.5 cm (12 in.) in diameter designed especially to measure the water content of snow in remote mountainous areas for unattended operation; part of a SNOTEL site. The bottom contains a known amount of an oil-antifreeze mixture. The oil prevents evaporation and the antifreeze melts the snow. A pressure transducer converts the oil-antifreeze-water mixture into a calibrated water depth. Daily changes in depth provide seasonal and annual accumulations. AMSglossary
GCW |