Treeferns rainfall gauging station
The Inkomati Catchment Management Agency installed an automated rainfall gauge at Treeferns Trout Lodge, Vlakfontein to support their real time river operations of the Inkomati Catchment Area. Rainfall and temperature data are transmitted daily to the receiver.
Treeferns rainfall gauging station is one of 15 rainfall stations installed in the Inkomati catchment. The Inkomati catchments Management Agency (ICMA) is the first of a total of 19 Catchment Management Agencies to be formed by the government of South Africa. The Agency was formed in order to be responsible for the protection, conservation, development and management of the water resources in South Africa at the Inkomati water management area (WMA) level.
The ICMA is currently a client for the UNESCO-IHE and Water research commission co-funded projects that aim to implement an improved system for the ICMA, improve the hydrological understating of the catchment. However the accuracy of the system relies on sufficient data in real time of which rainfall is a key aspect, as the accurate representation of rainfall data is paramount in obtaining accurate close real-to-time runoff forecasts from hydrological models. Rainfall is the primary entity behind river runoff and its spatial and temporal variability is a significant source of uncertainty for water resource modeling.
The rainfall at the gauging station is measured permanently by iMETOS® rain, and is powered by rechargeable batteries and a solar panel which makes the unit autonomous. iMETOS® rain only needs a valid GPRS contract with sufficient good GSM coverage in the area. The data from the station is sent to the internet at a user defined times several times per day.
Regards,
Sipho D. Magagula Cand. Sci.Nat.
Hydrologist: Water Resources Planning & Programmes:
Inkomati Catchment Management Agency
P/Bag X11214, Nelspruit, 1200
Floor 3, Caltex Bldg, 32 Bell Street, Nelspruit, 1200
Tel: +27 13 753 9027
Fax: +27 13 753 2786
Mobile: +27 72 810 5928
Email: magagulas@inkomaticma.co.za
Web: www.inkomaticma.co.za
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