Apparatus for measuring directional rainfall or snow

Present invention provides an apparatus for measuring directional rainfall or snow incorporating variables of a drainage basin including slope of topography and vertical barriers and direction of wind vector all of which are calibrated to the drainage basin. The apparatus includes an angular collection unit having a main angle and a secondary angle and a vertical capture plate adjusted at the height representative of vertical and a positioning unit which positions the angular collection unit in the direction of wind. Using the apparatus, rainfall or snowfall is measured as a function of basin topography and wind conditions eliminating a large number of rainfall and snowfall gauges for averaging purposes to obtain more representative and accurate measurements.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention lies in the field of hydrology and more particularly 
to improve measurement of rainfall or snow under heavy directional winds. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
There is a need for an apparatus which improves the accuracy of rainfall 
measurements effected by wind. Said apparatus also makes rainfall 
measurements possible even under horizontal directional rainfall. Prior 
art for measuring rainfall events does not consider direction of winds 
effecting rainfall. In addition, prior art reviewed does not consider 
measurements of horizontal or near horizontal rainfall events. Present 
invention improves the accuracy of rainfall measurements effected by wind, 
and also makes angular and horizontal rainfall measurements possible. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention lies in the field of hydrology and improves the 
accuracy of rainfall or snow measurements effected by wind. Said 
measurements are made possible even under horizontal directional rainfall 
or snow by the present invention. In nature rainfall has changing angular 
direction over a given large drainage basin which includes non flat 
topography and vertical obstructions such as trees, structures and roofs. 
Angular and horizontal rainfall or snow is captured by non flat topography 
and vertical obstacles of said drainage basin. A small collection surface 
of prior art does not capture all of the angular rainfall due to 
limitations of its fixed and flat collection surface. In addition, 
horizontal directional rainfall is not captured by prior art due to lack 
of vertical collection surface. Therefore, rainfall measured by prior art 
has an inherited margin of error due to its limitations. 
Present invention incorporates primary variables of a drainage basin such 
as slope, vertical barriers, direction of wind all of which effect 
rainfall. If said variables incorporated in present invention are selected 
and calibrated site specifically to a drainage basin, a rainfall event can 
be modeled and recorded most accurately using present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention including an 
angular collection unit 11, a positioning unit 12, a rotational connector 
15, a measurement unit 16, and a containment and discharge unit 17, and a 
discharge valve 18. Said angular collection unit 11 is shown in the 
direction of wind vector 14 positioned by 12. 
FIG. 2 shows a top view of the present invention including an angular 
collection unit 11, a positioning unit 12 which is attached to angular 
collection unit 11. A pair of stabilizers 12.a are attached to positioning 
unit 12 to provide stability. A vertical capture plate 11.a is shown 
relative to direction of wind vector 14. FIG. 2 also shows a top view of a 
male joint 15.a of a rotational connector 15, and identifies cross section 
1--1 as demonstrated in more detail in FIG. 3. 
FIG. 3 shows a view of cross section 1--1 as shown in FIG. 2. An angular 
collection unit 11 is positioned by a positioning unit 12 in the direction 
of wind vector 14 using a rotational connector 15 which is attached to 11. 
Said angular collection unit has angles 11.b and 11.c, and vertical 
capture plate 11.a, all of which allow collection of vertical rainfall 19, 
angular rainfall 20, and horizontal rainfall 21 covering areas defined by 
22, 23, 24 respectively. Angle 11.b is preferred to be 45 degrees and 11.c 
is preferred to be less than 45 degrees. Vertical capture plate 11.a is to 
cover opening created by angle 11.c to maximize collection of horizontal 
directional rainfall. However said angles and vertical capture plate can 
be selected to represent a specific drainage basin as a function of wind 
vector patterns and topography of said basin. Angular collection unit 11 
is connected to a measurement unit 16 using rotational connector 15 which 
consist of male and female connectors 15.a and 15.b respectively. A 
containment and discharge unit 17 and discharge valve 18 are attached to 
said measurement unit. Containment and discharge unit 17 contains the 
rainfall water and discharges using 18 as needed. In nature, rainfall is 
directional and angular due to effects of local and regional winds over 
drainage basins which are not flat. All horizontal and angular rainfall is 
captured by non flat topography, and vertical obstacles such as 
structures, roofs, and vegetation including trees. Prior art commonly has 
a fixed horizontal collection surface which does not consider effects of 
wind on rainfall. When prior art is used where strong local and regional 
winds are present, measurements and associated data would not represent 
the actual rainfall over a drainage basin. There would be a significant 
deviation due to disparity between horizontal and angular rainfall 
measured versus actual rainfall captured by the drainage basin. However 
present invention has an angular collection unit 11 which is positioned by 
a positioning unit 12 in the direction of wind vector 14. An angular 
collection unit 11 has an angular surface defined by angles 11.b and 11.c, 
and vertical capture plate 11.a, all of which provide conditions 
representative of rainfall occurring and collected in nature. For 
instance, horizontal or near horizontal rainfall 21 through a cross 
section of space identified by 24 would be captured by the present 
invention, but would not be captured by prior art. 
Present invention incorporates primary variables of a drainage basin such 
as slope of topography, vertical barriers, direction of wind vector, all 
of which effect rainfall collection. If said variables incorporated in 
present invention are selected and calibrated site specifically to a 
drainage basin, a rainfall event can be modeled and recorded most 
accurately using present invention. 
While I have fully shown and described embodiments of my apparatus for 
measuring directional rainfall or snow no limitations as to the scope of 
the present invention should be implied from the foregoing description. 
The true scope of the present invention is limited only by the following 
claims.