When placing IoT devices in the field, we always keep in mind the holistic or nested approach to monitoring. It means we try to connect many different types of equipment and solutions which are strategically placed in the field. Multiple data points give us the chance for monitoring meteorological events with higher precision and higher precision means better understanding of the current and future status of the crop.
Recently we have taken a closer look to a major rain event in Carman, Canada which resulted in localized flooding. About 35mm of rain fell within 30 minutes.
We compared the measurements of four weather stations with rain gauges, placed over a distance of 1km near Carman. The recorded values were all extremely close: 84.4, 85, 83.3, and 83.2 mm of rain over a 24-hour period which shows us the accuracy of the rain gauges and also the spatial variability over a relatively short distance.
To put this into perspective: The Environment Canada station on the UofM Carman Research farm registered 71.4mm of precipitation over the same 24-hour period.
We also had a look at the situation in the soil.
The first graph shows the rain event and the second shows the change in the soil. The response of the soil moisture probe was instantaneous.
Graph 1: Rainfall measurement
Graph 2: Carman Canada Rainfall Soil Probe Response