Shielded storage precipitation gages

The shielded storage precipitation gage designed by J. Cecil Alter consists of a galvanized iron framework as illustrated in the photograph. The shield is made of strips of galvanized sheet iron, hung on a one-quarter in. hoop 36 in. in diameter. The shield leaves are hung on the hoop with bent wires on each side and spaced at the top and bottom by brass chain. The gage is a standard Weather Bureau rain gage outer shell 8 in. in diameter, and is held in place by a metal collar at the bottom and a swivel hoop at the top for removing the gage for weighing the solution of calcium chloride and water at 33.4% by weight. The solution keeps the gage from freezing and evaporation is prevented by an oil film. The original charge of approximately one quart of water solution is weighed for the original weight and then weighed at intervals of daily, weekly, monthly or after each storm as desired. Each weighing is entered and the previous weighing subtracted to obtain the inches of rainfall or snowfall that has occurred during the interval. At the Mountain Snow Fall Stations, 5 gages are erected about 200 feet apart and on approximately a square with one in the center.