Chapter U3.50, Problem 1TAI

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation : Method by which meteorologists keep track of the amount of rainfall is to be described.

Concept Introduction : After a rainfall, rain can be several inches deep at some places or it may not be so deep on the sidewalks. The rain water runs off the sidewalks, runs down hills, collects in depressions, and soaks into grass. Rain can be measured using rain gauge.

Answer to Problem 1TAI

Meteorologists keep track of the amount of rainfall by measuring the height of rain water collected in rain gauge. They use height and not volume to report rainfall. Height and volume for a specific rain gauge are related by a proportionality constant, k .

Explanation of Solution

Amount of rainfall can be measured using an instrument called rain gauge. Rain gauge has a wide funnel to collect water into a narrow tube.

Meteorologists keep track of the amount of rainfall by measuring the height of rain water collected in rain gauge in a particular time period. They use height and not volume to report rainfall. Height of rainfall is same for different containers but volume changes with different containers. That is why meteorologists report rainfall in centimeters and inches.

Height and volume for a specific rain gauge are related by a proportionality constant, k .

The relation can be depicted as:

  $\text{Volume=k×height}$

Here, volume and height are proportional for containers with uniform shape and parallel walls.

Conclusion

Amount of rainfall is not proportional to time. This is because rainfall is not necessarily steady. Sometimes it rains a lot and sometimes it rains a little.