Introduction: ♻ PLASTIC BOTTLE RAIN GAUGE ♻
This is a simple rain gauge made from a plastic bottle. My father tought me how to do it.
We always use it for deciding if and when we should water our fruit trees. (keep in mind that on a hot summer day 4 or 5 mm of water a day evaporated from the ground, so if it rained 50 mm, you don't need to water your trees for about 10/12 days).
We always use it for deciding if and when we should water our fruit trees. (keep in mind that on a hot summer day 4 or 5 mm of water a day evaporated from the ground, so if it rained 50 mm, you don't need to water your trees for about 10/12 days).
Step 1: WHAT YOU NEED
MATERIALS:
_plastic bottle (conic or funnel shaped);
_strong tape;
_stick or cane.
TOOLS:
_cutter;
_permanent marker;
_scales or capacity measure for liquids;
_ruler.
_plastic bottle (conic or funnel shaped);
_strong tape;
_stick or cane.
TOOLS:
_cutter;
_permanent marker;
_scales or capacity measure for liquids;
_ruler.
Step 2: PREPARE BOTTLE
remove labels with warm water, and cut away the bottom of the bottle with cutter.
Step 3: MAKE MESUREMENT
_measure the open AREA of the bottle opening: r • r • 3.14 (measure the diameter, divided it in 2 and find the radius, then
do radius by radius by 3.14);
_now, knowing that if it rain 1l of water on 1 square meter it will correspond at 1 mm of water, we need to find out how many ml in your bottle that mm of rain fall on the ground will correspond (x). We need to use this formula:
1m2 bottle open area 1liter • bottle open area
-------- = --------------------- so: x= ----------------------------------
1 liter x 1m2
this is an example using the measurement of my bottle, my bottle diameter was 8.6 cm ( than 4.3 cm of radius)
4.3cm•4.3cm•3.14=58cm2 ( 58cm2=0.0058m2)
1m2 0.0058m2 1 liter • 0.0058 m2
--------- = ------------------ so: x= --------------------------- so: x=5.8 ml
1 liter x 1m2
another way to find your x is: calculate the volume of 1 mm of water on the area of open surface of your water bottle, and use that number to make the measurements on your bottle:
r•r•3.14•0.1cm2=x (than transform it: 1cm2=1ml)
do radius by radius by 3.14);
_now, knowing that if it rain 1l of water on 1 square meter it will correspond at 1 mm of water, we need to find out how many ml in your bottle that mm of rain fall on the ground will correspond (x). We need to use this formula:
1m2 bottle open area 1liter • bottle open area
-------- = --------------------- so: x= ----------------------------------
1 liter x 1m2
this is an example using the measurement of my bottle, my bottle diameter was 8.6 cm ( than 4.3 cm of radius)
4.3cm•4.3cm•3.14=58cm2 ( 58cm2=0.0058m2)
1m2 0.0058m2 1 liter • 0.0058 m2
--------- = ------------------ so: x= --------------------------- so: x=5.8 ml
1 liter x 1m2
another way to find your x is: calculate the volume of 1 mm of water on the area of open surface of your water bottle, and use that number to make the measurements on your bottle:
r•r•3.14•0.1cm2=x (than transform it: 1cm2=1ml)
Step 4: MARK NOTCH ON BOTTLE
now you have found x.
_x is the corresponding measure on your bottle of 1 mm of rain fallen on the ground, so we need to use it to mark the measurement on the bottle.
_because the number you will find is so small I will multiplied it by 5 times (so it will correspond to 5 mm of rain fallen on the ground).
_pour in the bottle the milliliters of water you just measured (5x) and mark it with permanent marker (write 5 mm). you can use a capacity measure for liquids or a scales (1l of water weigh one kilo).
_keep adding milliliters and marking until you mark the whole bottle.
example of my bottle:
_my x were 5.8 ml
_5.8 ml•5= 29 ml (corresponding at 5 mm of rain fallen on the ground)
_I signed the 5, 10, 15, 20,30,40,50,70,100 and 150 mm of rain on my bottle.
_x is the corresponding measure on your bottle of 1 mm of rain fallen on the ground, so we need to use it to mark the measurement on the bottle.
_because the number you will find is so small I will multiplied it by 5 times (so it will correspond to 5 mm of rain fallen on the ground).
_pour in the bottle the milliliters of water you just measured (5x) and mark it with permanent marker (write 5 mm). you can use a capacity measure for liquids or a scales (1l of water weigh one kilo).
_keep adding milliliters and marking until you mark the whole bottle.
example of my bottle:
_my x were 5.8 ml
_5.8 ml•5= 29 ml (corresponding at 5 mm of rain fallen on the ground)
_I signed the 5, 10, 15, 20,30,40,50,70,100 and 150 mm of rain on my bottle.
Step 5: MAKE THE PEDESTAL
place the stick on the bottle (like in the photo) and stick it with tape.
Step 6: DONE
you 're done! place the pluviometer (rain gauge) in your garden (stick the cane in the dirt), far from trees or roofs.
empty after every rain: you just need to unscrew the cap of the bottle.
empty after every rain: you just need to unscrew the cap of the bottle.