Python Precipitation Data Comparison Tool
Tools
Python, Excel
Year
2026
Format
Professional Project
Field Instrument
The Pluvio precipitation gauge used to collect rainfall and snowfall data for comparison against Environment Canada records.
1 / 5
Project Goal
Analyze raw winter precipitation data from a Pluvio gauge, compare measurements with Environment Canada records, identify potential causes of unreliable readings, and develop a reusable system for processing and reviewing future datasets.
My Contribution
- Developed a reusable Python script that cleans raw Pluvio precipitation gauge output and generates structured 15-minute, hourly, daily, and weekly datasets
- Designed the script with editable settings for file paths, date ranges, and output options so new datasets can be processed without hardcoding
- Compared Pluvio measurements against Environment Canada records to identify timing, completeness, and precipitation inconsistencies that were later found to align with field equipment and power-supply issues
- Built a formatted Excel comparison workbook with status flags, winter-condition indicators, and highlighted best-match results to make the data easier to interpret
Key Features
Record & Winter Flags
Each day was flagged for missing or incomplete records, along with snow and below-freezing conditions that could affect gauge performance.
Best-Match Highlighting
The Excel output highlights the Pluvio calculation method closest to Environment Canada, making the strongest daily comparison easy to identify.
Field Issue Diagnosis
Data patterns helped identify equipment issues, including low battery power and an inactive heater that affected winter measurements.