On 4/23/2004 condensation was found inside the target area of the ORG lens. A spare was
sent and installed but did not solve the problem of high background voltage values causing
rainrate values to be recorded during no rainfall. Values range anywhere from 0.06 to
0.12 mm/hr.
A new Optical Rain Gage was installed on 01/19/2005 @ 13:30 GMT alleviating the high
background voltage values that lead to consistent rainfall rates of around 0.11 to 0.15 mm/hr
on a consistent basis.
The formula used to calculate rainfall rates from the new Optical Rain Gage is: RR
(mm/hr) = 25(V^1.87) - 0.15.
Older model formula = 20(V^2) - 0.05
The two formulas result in comparable data. |