# Rain Gauge Facts
Rain gauges are used to measure the amount of rain in a specific area over a set amount of time. They can be simple or complex, and they do not measure frozen precipitation.
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Other Names
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Rain gauges are also known as pluviometers or udometers. These are scientific names; most people know them simply as rain gauges.
History
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The first known rainfall record keepers were the ancient Greeks. Records date back to 500 B.C.
Modern Rain Gauges
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The first modern rain gauge was invented in 1662 by Christopher Wren. It was a tipping-bucket style gauge.
Wind Limitations
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Rain gauges do not work in hurricanes. Water cannot accumulate in the measurement tubes if the wind is too strong.
Temperature Limitations
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If it is very close to freezing, precipitation can freeze on the edges of a rain gauge. This causes low measurements.
Types
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There are four main types of rain gauges. These are the graduated cylinder, weight based gauges, tipping buckets and the optical gauge.
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