Seasonal storage precipitation gages

A non-recording winter storage precipitation gage used successfully in a region of heavy snowfall is described. The gage is conical in shape with a standard 8-inch diameter orifice and is charged with a CaCl2 solution of 34% by weight, and covered with a film of light oil. The gage is mounted in a steel tower constructed of 5 ft. sections to exceed the deepest snow depth by at least 5 feet. The gage has a capacity of 300 inches of precipitation. The bottom 100 inches is taken up with the CaCl2 antifreeze solution leaving 200 inches for snowfall and rainfall in the form of added water. The gages are calibrated for stick measurement and also fitted with the necessary valves and safety plugs for draining the solution for weighing at the end of the precipitation season. The antifreeze solution is weighed into the gage and measured by stick depth and then the diluted solution is stick measured and weighed out of the gage. The difference in total weights is compared with the difference of stick measurements by calibration.