TYPES OF

EVAPORIMETER
By : Subramany
WHAT IS EVAPORIMETER?

- Are water-containing pans which are exposed

to the atmosphere and the loss of water by
evaporation measured in them at regular
intervals. Meteorological data, such as humidity,
wind movement, air and water temperature and
precipitation are also noted along with the
evaporation measurement.
TYPES OF EVAPORATION PAN:

• CLASS A

• COLORADO SUNKEN PAN

• ISI : 5973-1970 ( MODIFIED CLASS A )

• US FLOATING PAN
 CLASS A:
The Class A Evaporation Pan is used
for measurement of water
evaporation. It is normally installed
on a wooden platform set on the
ground in a grassy location. The pan
is filled with water and exposed to
represent an open body of water.
The pan is filled to the datum in the
fixed point gauge. The evaporation
rate can be measured by hook gauge
or by refilling to the datum in the
fixed point gauge.

CLASS A EVAPORATION PAN WITH FIXED POINT GAUGE

AND MEASURING CYLINDER
The Class A Evaporation Pan is normally installed on a wooden platform on the ground.

SPECIFICATION:

Material: unpainted GI sheet

Construction: Welded

Size: 260 mm x 1210 mm diameter

Packed Weight: 65 Kg Crated

 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF CLASS A
EVAPORATION PAN

ADVANTAGES: DISADVANTAGES:

• Low Tech • Overflows during big

rainfall events
• Inexpensive
• Doesn’t account for
• Accurate under most limited water supply in
circumstances the actual environment
TYPES OF EVAPORATION PAN:

• CLASS A

• COLORADO SUNKEN PAN

• ISI : 5973-1970 ( MODIFIED CLASS A )

• US FLOATING PAN
 COLORADO SUNKEN PAN:
The Colorado sunken pan is 92 cm
(3ft.) square and 46 cm (18 in.) deep,
made of 3 mm thick iron, placed in the
ground with the rim 5cm (2in.) above
the soil level. Also, the dimensions 1
m square and 0.5 m deep are
frequently used. The pan is
Painted with black tar paint. The
water level is maintained at or
slightly below ground level, i.e.,
5-7.5 cm below the rim.

Measurements are taken similarly to those for

Class A pan. Siting and environment requirements
are also similar to those for the Class A pan.
 SPECIFICATION:

Material: 3mm thick iron & painted with

black tar paint

Construction: Welded

Size: 920 mm square and 460 mm deep

Buried into the ground within 50 mm

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF COLORADO
SUNKEN EVAPORATION PAN

ADVANTAGES: DISADVANTAGES:

• Radiation and • Leaks are not visible

aerodynamics effects • Installation is expensive
are similar to lake • Maintenance is more
• Gives a better direct difficult
estimation than that • Extra care is needed to
Class A pan keep the surrounding area
from tall grass, dust, etc.
TYPES OF EVAPORATION PAN:

• CLASS A

• COLORADO SUNKEN PAN

• ISI : 5973-1970 ( MODIFIED CLASS A )

• US FLOATING PAN
 ISI : 5973-1970 ( MODIFIED CLASS A ):
This evaporimeter pan specified by IS: 5973-1970, also known as
Class A pan. A fixed point gauge indicates the level of water. A
calibrated cylindrical measure is used to add or remove water
maintaining the water level in the pan to a fixed mark.

The top of the pan is covered fully with a hexagonal wire netting of
galvanized iron to protect the water in the pan from birds. Further,
the presence of a wire mesh makes the water temperature more
uniform during day and night.
 SPECIFICATION:
Material: 0.9 mm thick copper
sheet, tinned inside and painted
white outside

Construction: Welded

Size: 1220 mm diameter and 255

mm deep
 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF ISI :
5973-1970 ( MODIFIED CLASS A ):

ADVANTAGES: DISADVANTAGES:

• Gives a better direct • Installation is expensive

estimation than that • Maintenance is difficult
Class A pan
• Having hexagonal wire
netting cover to
protect from birds.
TYPES OF EVAPORATION PAN:

• CLASS A

• COLORADO SUNKEN PAN

• ISI : 5973-1970 ( MODIFIED CLASS A )

• US FLOATING PAN
 US FLOATING PAN:
Use to simulate
characteristics of a large
body of water. The water
level in the pan is kept in
the same level as the lake
leaving a rim of 75 mm.
Diagonal baffles provided
in the pan reduce the
surging in the pan due to
wave action.
This square pan ( 900
mm side and 450 mm depth)
supported by drum floats
in the middle of a raft
( 4.25m x 4.87m ) is set
afloat in a lake.
 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF US
FLOATING PAN

ADVANTAGES: DISADVANTAGES:

• The floats in take and • High cost of installment

environment for • High maintenance cost
evaporation is same as
that of lake. • Measurement of
evaporation is the main
• Evaporation rates disadvantage.
obtained is very close
to lake evaporation.