|
|
Mystery disappearance of Met
device
09.06.09
GREENCASTLE'S Harbour
Master yesterday appealed for the return of an
important meteorological device that has gone
missing from a mountain top in the locality.
John McClenaghan, who carries out a rainfall survey
on behalf of Met Eireann every month, said the
cylindrical copper rainfall gauge disappeared from
the top of Crocaulin mountain, Greencastle, within
the last few weeks.
The device has been in-situ within the gated
compound of the RTE television mast for at least 40
years.
"I measure the rainfall on the first day of every
month and the gauge was there on May 1 but it has
since gone missing and I wasn't able to carry out
the measurements on June 1," explained John.
The local harbour master has not automatically
jumped to the conclusion of vandalism or outright
theft. |
"Crocaulin is off the
beaten track for most people and not everybody would
be up and about in that area. There's a possibility
that someone came on this item and took it by
mistake, not realising it had a purpose.
"If that was the case, then there's no harm done.
They can just leave it back and there'll be nothing
more about it."
The missing item is described as a copper cylinder
about two-and-half feet long and around nine inches
in diameter. There is another copper insert within
it and the entire device is buried in |
 |
the mountain moss to a
depth of about two-and-a-half
feet. It is flared at the base to secure it in the
soil.
"It would take a wee bit of work to get it out of
the ground - your average child wouldn't be able to
do it. Having said that, an adult could take it out
without a great deal of difficulty," added John.
The local harbour boss says he charts the rainfall
statistics for Met Eireann "more as a hobby than
anything else" saying the financial reward for doing
the task is nominal. He measures the rainfall daily
from his home and on the first day of the month on
Crocaulin. He then fills in his charts and sends
them monthly to the national weather service. His
statistics form the basis of the rainfall reports
seen monthly on the RTE weather bulletins. He
immediately informed Met Eireann that the device had
gone missing and they are dispatching a replacement.
However, while not a particularly valuable item,
they are expensive to make and are of little use to
the average person.
If you know anything about the missing rainfall
gauge or would like to return it to John, you can
call him on 087 2502231. |
|
