Rain simulators: Convergence between scientific and usage parameters in the replication of natural precipitation

Abstract

A infrequent nature of rainfall, the unpredictability of events, variable duration, intensity, and erosiveness make the process of acquiring data from natural rains a complex task, hindering and even rendering the execution of scientific studies difficult. Rain simulators emerge in this context as a way to overcome this issue, aiming to replicate natural precipitation events as faithfully as possible artificially. To ensure greater reliability of use, scientific parameters have been established, regulating the basic principles of the attributes to be replicated by these devices. Furthermore, the use of rain simulators must also meet the specific demands of each research, influencing the diverse range of equipment models found in the literature, which employ different mechanisms for the formation and distribution of precipitation, each developed to address the specific challenges of individual studies. In this sense, this work aims to present the fundamental principles of operation, uses, advantages, and disadvantages of different rain simulator models, in order to contribute to the understanding of their functioning and assist in choosing the equipment that best suits the demands of each research, thus enhancing the quality of the produced data.