Precipitation MCQ with answer and solution

Concept

The natural syphon (float type) rain gauge is the standard recording rain gauge in India.

Step-by-step solution

1. Recording rain gauges give a continuous plot of rainfall against time (mass curve). 2. The common types are tipping-bucket, weighing-bucket and natural syphon (float) type. 3. In the natural syphon gauge, rain enters a float chamber. The float rises and a pen records the rise on a chart on a clock drum. 4. When the chamber is full, a syphon empties it and the pen returns to zero. 5. India adopts this gauge as the standard recording type. So the answer is (C).

Explanation

The natural syphon or float type gauge records cumulative rainfall on a chart using a float and a pen. It empties itself by syphon action. India uses it as the standard recording rain gauge.

Why the other options are wrong

A: The weighing-bucket gauge is a recording gauge but not the Indian standard. B: 'Tipping & weighing' is not a standard gauge type. D: The tipping-bucket gauge is used for telemetry and remote recording, but it is not the Indian standard recording gauge.

Shortcut

Indian standard: non-recording = Symons gauge; recording = natural syphon (float) gauge.

Common mistake

Choosing tipping-bucket because it is the most famous recording gauge worldwide.