Comparison of a tipping-bucket and electronic weighing precipitation gage for snowfall

A comparison of a heated tipping-bucket and an electronic weighing precipitation gage for snowfall was conducted over a 173 day period in winter 2009 and 2010 at the Zermatt weather station in the Swiss Alps (1638 m a.s.l.). The main advantages of the electronic weighing system were lower evaporation losses and a higher accuracy in assessing the beginning of snowfall events. The tipping-bucket gage measured overall 23.7% less precipitation due to heating-related losses, and showed a mean delay of ∼ 30 min in recording the beginning of the events. The delay can be explained by the time it takes to melt the snow and fill the first tip at the given time sampling resolution (∼ 20 min) and by evaporation losses (∼ 10 min). The delay is important if accurate identification of the beginning of events is required.

► A 2-year experiment was conducted to compare the performance of a heated tipping-bucket and electronic weighing gage for snowfall.
► The tipping-bucket gage measured 23.7% less precipitation due to heating-related losses.
► The tipping-bucket gage started recording with a mean delay of about 30 min due to heating losses and the tipping mechanism.
► Heated tipping-bucket gages are not adequate for recording the timing of snowfall events.