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.
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Project Goal
Explore raw winter precipitation data from a Pluvio gauge, determine whether the measurements were reasonable by comparing them to Environment Canada records, and develop a reusable system for cleaning, organizing, and reviewing future gauge 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 evaluate precipitation timing, daily totals, and data reliability
- 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 Completeness Flags
Each day was checked against the expected 15-minute recording interval and labelled as complete, partial, or missing based on how much Pluvio data was available.
Winter Issue Indicators
Snow-on-ground and below-freezing flags were added to identify days where freezing, melting, or possible antifreeze issues may have affected the gauge readings.
Best-Match Highlighting
The Excel output highlights the Pluvio calculation method closest to Environment Canada, making the strongest daily comparison easy to identify.