A Dense Network for Rapid Measurement of Rainfall Rate*

We discuss the design and operation of a dense rain gauge system for obtaining statistical data on both the temporal and spatial distribution of heavy rainfall. The data are collected every ten seconds from a network of approximately one hundred rain gauges spaced 1.34 kilometer in a square array which covers an area of 130 square kilometers. The rain gauge is a continuous, flow type with a response time of the order of one second. We describe the system used for recording the data on magnetic tape and give typical computer-generated rain maps for large area storms and for localized showers.