Page:Handbook of Meteorology.djvu/245

 A multiplicity of snow gauges is not required, but with the combined results of gauges, snow tubes and fixed measuring posts, a fair approximate of the catchment of the basin may be obtained.

In practically all localities where snowfall requires measurement the following difficulties confront the observer: mixed or alternating snow and rain; rapid melting of snow while it is falling; a very light fall, say, less than half an inch; rapidly drifting snow. In the case of the first three, the observer may remove the receiver and tube from the gauge and catch the precipitation in the barrel. In the last case about the only way to overcome the difficulty is to make a considerable number of measurements where no drifting is apparent. One must use care to avoid measuring old snow with a fresh fall.