Field Form Review, Raingage Chart Reduction, and Shipping  SECTION 1 - Completion of most recent version of the Field Observer Report Form (FORF 10/06)  SECTION 2 - Analysis of precipitation data from the raingage chart  SECTION 3 - Shipping

SECTION 1 Completion of most recent version of the Field Observer Report Form (FORF 10/06) OBJECTIVE: To relay data to the CAL in a manner which is timely, accurate and detailed. This assures that A)the data are complete and easy to understand, B)any problems with the operation of the field equipment are documented, and C)anything effecting the representativeness of the individual sample or of the site is noted.

GENERAL RULES:  Submit one FORF for each sample submitted.  Each week fill out two FORF’s; one for the date off (to finish the present week) and one for the date on (to start next week).  Use a ball point pen and write hard on a single FORF. Don’t write through the stack!  The individual blocks are self explanatory, complete Block 1 through 10 where required.

GENERAL RULES:  Before separating the FORF, review it for completeness and accuracy.  After packing the mailer or 5x5x9 box with your sample bottle in bag, place white and yellow FORFs with original raingage chart.  Return any memos, data corrections, etc. with FORF and sample.  Keep the pink copy of the FORF and a photocopy of your raingage chart filed in chronological order for 2 years.

RULE 1: Record something for every day of sampling, from the time the bucket was put on to the time it was taken off. 4 options .no precipitation - circle “Z” .precipitation or no precipitation? (DON’T KNOW) - circle “MM” for unknown, unmeasured, or missing amount .precipitation - circle “T” for trace when precipitation was observed but was an amount less than the gage is designed to record (less that.01") .precipitation - indicate amount to nearest.01"

RULE 2: When there is any precipitation (even a trace) indicate a type.  R = all rain (includes hail)  S = all snow  M = mixture of rain & snow, sleet or freezing rain, or combination  U = don’t know

RULE 3: Total sampling period precipitation must equal the sum of the daily amounts (except when daily amounts are missing).  Do not include a “T” in the sum of daily amounts; for example: Thursday -.06", Sunday -.70", Monday - “T”, Tuesday - “T”, all other days - 0 yields a sum of.76.  When the daily amount is missing for one or more days, the total for the sampling period is missing, as well; for example: Thursday -.06", Sunday -.70", Monday - “T”, Tuesday - MM yields a total that is missing.

SECTION 2 Analysis of precipitation data from the raingage chart OBJECTIVE: To carefully analyze the data from the belfort at your site. This assures that A)the precipitation events are accurately measured for amount and duration, and B)any problems with the operation of precipitation collector are detected early (assure wet-deposition only sampling).

GENERAL RULES:  0.05" is the smallest chart scaling, 0.01" is the minimum resolution for each precipitation event.  When evaluating the chart remember that the time is set by the bottom (precipitation) pen.  Perform the event recorder/ precipitation trace comparison each week to assure that your samples are valid.  Use the rules of daily and weekly precipitation reporting.  Annotate the chart as much as needed without obscuring the traces.

GEOGRAPHY OF A RAINGAGE CHART  Perform Analysis on Chart  Event recorder transcription into precipitation line  Split periods  Daily analysis and notation  Time on horizontal axis. About 30 minute resolution.  Amount on vertical axis.

GEOGRAPHY OF A RAINGAGE CHART

Daily Total Breakdown