How does a tipping bucket rain gauge measure rainfall?
Tipping bucket style rain gauges feature two individual cells calibrated to a known volume of water. The cells balance on a fulcrum, and at the center of the fulcrum is a contact switch. During a precipitation event a cell will fill with water and tip, emptying the water. As the cell tips it causes a momentary contact closure that is recorded by the weather station or data logger to which it is attached. The weather station or data logger calculates the amount of precipitation required to fill the cell and cause it to tip.
