Early attempts to measure rainfall

Ian Strangeways

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511535772.011

7 - Early attempts to measure rainfall

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 October 2009

Ian Strangeways

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Summary

India

The first written reference to the measurement of rainfall appears in India in the fourth century BC, in Kautilya's Arthasastra (Shamasastry 1915). From it we read that ‘In front of the storehouse, a bowl with its mouth as wide as an Aratni (18 inches) shall be set up as a raingauge (Varshanana).’ Later it is said that

The quantity of rain that falls in the country of Jangala is 16 dronas; half as much more in moist countries; 13½ dronas in the country of Asmakas … The forecast of such rainfall can be made by observing the position, motion and pregnancy of Jupiter, the rise and set motion of the Venus and the natural or unnatural aspect of the sun … Hence, according as the rainfall is more or less, the superintendent shall sow the seeds which require either more or less water.

Palestine

The second known written record of the measurement of precipitation is in the Mishnah, a book recording 400 years of Jewish life in Palestine from the early second century BC to the end of the second century AD (Danby 1933). Rainfall is reported for a full year, although it is not clear if this is just one year or the average of many (Vogelstein 1894). The year is divided into three periods. The ‘early period’, or autumn rain, is from October to mid December, ‘which moistens the land and fits it for the reception of the seed’.

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: Precipitation
Theory, Measurement and Distribution
, pp. 139 - 150

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511535772.011 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2006

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