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26 AUTOMATIC HYDROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONStime of writing, no basic failure has occurred after over four months of continuousoperation.ConclusionAt this stage, the specific purpose is to report snowpack parameters, fromremote mountain areas in the Columbia River watershed, to a manned base station. Thesystem as it stands will report up to three parameters, and will produce a record onelectric typewriter or punched paper tape.The telemetry system is simple and versatile, however, and is adaptable toalmost any dedicated communications link: direct radio transmission, landline, telephone,or any combination of these. It will also be possible to provide thefacility for operation with existing land-line or radio teletype networks.As the system is modular, it is possible to add other parameters to itsreport: wind speed and direction and total precipitation are examples where existingsensors can be incorporated, along with suitable encoders. Reporting of other parometerswill be feasible when reliable - low-power sensors become available. Forexample, a simple humidity sensor not susceptible to contamination would be a· verywelcome addition for many purposes.The aim of such system versatility is to provide wide applicability to meetother needs. Few, if any, of these will . impo~e such formidable constraints ofenvironment and long term reliability as those of the mountain stations for theColumbia network, and in most cases the modular equipment will then constitute on easyand direct solution to the problem. Design features and components of· this equipmenthave already been adopted in the development of a remote wind reporting stationon the Queen Charlotte Islands. Distinct opplications are foreseen for forestrypurposes as well.Such equipment should now easily meet the needs expressed to MeteorologicalBranch for hydrometeorological reporting from other major river basins. The equipmentcould also accept hydrological inputs such as water-level sensors, and could infact be used to upgrade existing hydrological recording networks into telemeteringnetworks of both hydrological and hydrometeorological data.3.2 Example II (U.S.A.). The Hy-Tel remote radio telemetry systemSince September 1968, the Notional Weather Service of the United States hasoperated experimentally a hydrological telemetry network in the American River Basinof California. This system, known as Hy-Tel (Hydrologic Telemetering), is manufacturedby the Astro-Met Division of Thiokol Chemical Corporation of Ogden, Utah,U.S.A.The network provides precipitation, temperature and snow water equivalentdata for use in river, flood and water management forecasting. Sensors for otherparameters such as wind direction and speed, dew point, radiation, etc. are beingdeveloped. The system is designed to read up to 22 separate sensors.