Setting up and using your rain gauge

Find a spot to install your rain gauge

Find an area away from buildings, trees or other large objects.
If possible, position your gauge so it's at least as far away from objects as they are tall. See the image below as an example.
Ask your whānau/whoever owns the property if it's ok to put your rain gauge there!
If possible, attach the gauge to a post or other object so that the top of the gauge is above the top of the post. More instructions on this are below. (If you can’t find anything to attach it to other than a wall, make sure the wall doesn’t shelter the gauge from the main winds that bring rain!)

Pick a height that makes it easy to read the gauge, but the lower the better.
Try and make your gauge level (e.g., use a builders level, or hang a weight on a piece of string to find what is straight up).
Attach the green plastic backing to your chosen post using nails or screws through the 2 small centre holes, then slide on the gauge. Probably best to ask an adult for some help with this bit!
Keep your gauge clean and free from anything falling into it.
Now you're set up and ready to record the rain!

Please send some information to emily@bodekerscientific.com about your rain gauge. We need the following information:

✅ The location

✅ What your gauge is attached to (a post, a stump, a clothes line, fence, wall, or something else...)

✅ A picture of your gauge!

Try to read your rain gauge at the same time every day.
Read the scale in millimetres (mm). Even reporting when there has been 0mm of rain is really important!
Lift off your gauge and empty it completely after you've written down the reading.
Log into the website or app and send us your rainfall reading! If you haven't already signed up to the website, go here to find out how to.