Why This Simple Tool Is More Important Than You Think
September 30, 2024
Source: Reddit
Staring out the window, after the storm, to see the rain dripping from the branches in a bitter cold, or after waking up and seeing the snow, piled up high. Long before weather apps and satellites, people relied on a simple invention to answer the age-old question: “How much has fallen?” Stepping in the precipitation gauge – the last but very important invention that can be considered as the principle ‘actor’ in studying the weather.
It starts from the story of the first Korean rain gauge in the fifteenth century Korea to measure the rain drop for the purpose of agriculture. It was a simple metal vessel that held the rain-water and from this quantity, crop requirement could be estimated. In the 1600s the structure reached Europe where Englishman, Robert Hook developed a more improved structure. These early rain gauges were basic and functional and served well, in a world where people weren’t even able to dream of having their weather forecasted.
Measuring snows was quite a different problem. There were earliest attempt at measurement from the end of the 19th century the snow gauges, left metal cylinders in the open to measure snow fall. The snow would be then gathered and most of the time it was melted and measured how much water we have. These early snow gauges were requisite in the mountains where it was necessary to know how much snow accumulations were in order to predict floods and water supply.
With increase in time, technology advanced. New innovations for measuring snow at mid twentieth century included automated snow gauges. These gauges melted snow by heating elements and could measure accumulating snow in real-time all day. It was especially useful in regions that relied on fresh water originating from snow; as in the western part of the United States.
However these gauges were not limited to the use of scientist or the weather station alone. They used them for evaluating cases of rainfall in order to decide on planting and cases of harvesting. For many years it’s last, a rain, or a snow gauge was not a rare sight in the rural areas. Children themselves participated too in the use of such devices as simple gauges during school projects and so the use of these devices became commonplace.
Despite the fact these first instruments may appear rather archaic today when great technological achievements have been made, these were the first precursors that helped to open the way to how the weather is either measured or even perceived at present. People used them to relate to the physical environment and to see storms and snowfalls that formed their societies. Now one can only look back at these simple devices with gratitude as they made the basis for today’s weather forecasts.