A pluviograph complements the conventional rain gauge by adding continuous time recording. Classic models use a float and graduated-paper cylinder; modern ones use a tipping bucket generating electronic pulses for each 0.1–0.2 mm collected.
The resulting pluviogram measures rainfall intensity minute by minute, critical for flood flow calculations, drainage design, and flash flood warnings. Return period of maximum intensities (IDF curves) are computed from historical pluviograph series.