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Measuring monsoon rains
Monsoon storms sometimes seem like a waterfall is pouring from the sky. Have you ever wondered just how much rain falls in a big storm? Make your own rain gauge to find out!
You will need:
● Wide-mouthed jar with straight sides.
● Tall, narrow jar with straight sides.
● Ruler marked in inches.
● Masking tape.
● Plastic or metal bucket.
● Kitchen funnel.
● Waterproof marker.
Instructions:
1. Clean both jars with warm, soapy water and remove labels.
2. Stick the ruler in the wide-mouthed jar and fill the jar with water to a depth of 1 inch.
3. Tape a vertical strip of masking tape along the tall, narrow jar.
4. Pour the inch of water from the wide-mouthed jar through the funnel into the tall, narrow jar.
5. On the masking tape, draw a line at the top of the inch of water and label it "1." Draw another line at the bottom of the water in the jar and label it "0." In between, measure and mark nine equally spaced lines on the tape. Label them from .9 to .1. This lets you measure tenths of an inch of rain. This tall, narrow jar is your measuring jar.
6. The wide-mouthed jar is your collecting jar. Put it in the bucket and put the bucket outside in the open where it will not be disturbed.
7. After it rains, take the tall measuring jar outside and pour the water collected in the wide-mouthed jar into it to read the amount of rain that fell.
Keep a record of rainfall throughout the year!

Accent

Monsoon welcome, but it can be dangerous

Desert dwellers appeciate summer rainfall after the long, hot, dry spell
George L. Mountainlion
Special To The Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 07.23.2007
It's that time of year again. The temperatures outside are over 100, and the air is a little sticky. The monsoon is here!
"Monsoon" comes from an Arabic word for a seasonal change in the direction of the wind. In our region, monsoon also means a shift in wind direction and the rain it brings.
In May and June, the intense sun heats the air above the Sonoran Desert. In late June or early July until into September, the wind carries moisture from the Gulf of California and Gulf of Mexico to our region. This monsoon period produces about half of our yearly rainfall.
Most days, the summer sun heats the moist air and sends thunderclouds towering high. They build all day and then burst in exciting afternoon thunderstorms that bring lightning, thunder, rain and sometimes hail. The storms are welcome after the long, dry spell, cooling the air and bringing much-needed water to the desert.
But monsoon storms can also be dangerous. Here are some ways to stay safe during a storm:
● Stay out of washes, even if a thunderstorm seems far away. Floodwaters can quickly fill them and sweep up everything in their path.
● Do not try to cross flowing washes in your car or on foot.
● Stay inside or in a car (not a convertible).
● Do not talk on the phone (except in an emergency).
● If caught outside, stay away from tall trees or utility poles — they attract lightning strikes. If you're out in the open, go to a lower area instead of hilltops, but stay away from washes. In a forest, crouch in thicker, lower vegetation.
● Stay away from open water and metal vehicles such as golf carts, motorcycles and tractors.
● Avoid metal objects such as fences, poles, golf clubs, pipes and railings.
● If you are caught in a thunderstorm and feel your hair stand on end, a lightning strike is near. Drop to your knees, bend forward and place your hands on your knees.
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