April 9, 2021
A Durong grazing property is taking part in a high-tech trial of satellite rain gauges which aims to help scientists plug gaps in Queensland’s rainfall data.
The automatic rain gauge measures rainfall and transmits the data via satellite to the grazier every 24 hours.
It is one of 20 sites across Queensland taking part in the trial.
“We’re hopeful this trial will help fill in the spatial gaps that can occur with the existing Queensland-wide network of meteorological weather stations,” Science Minister Meaghan Scanlon said.
“The data will also feed via satellite into SILO, the Queensland Government’s publicly available and real-time climate data tool along with feeding into and enhancing FORAGE and grass reports used for climate risk management.
“If successful, the trial has the potential to lead to a larger deployment of these high-tech rain gauges to assist more of our landholders.”
FORAGE generates property-level reports incorporating a range of seasonal conditions and other environmental data, and AussieGRASS uses spatial simulation to model pasture growth and seasonal conditions in rangelands
The 20 fully automated rain gauges, each with tipping, collecting, measuring, and satellite data transmitting capability, are located on properties in the Diamantina, Torrens Creek, Charters Towers, Galilee, Durong, Esk, Lochington, Blackwater, Morven, Surat, Samford, Tregony, and Collinsville districts.
The $311,000 trial will run until June and is funded by the State Government’s Drought and Climate Adaptation Program (DCAP).
