Final answer:
Rain gauges are located in both agricultural fields and urban areas, used for irrigation needs and flood forecasting respectively, and play a crucial role in managing water resources and preparing for weather-related events.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rain gauges are instruments used to measure the amount of rainfall over a specific period. Although they can be found in various locations to serve different purposes, they are commonly placed in areas where accurate rainfall measurements are crucial. These places include agricultural fields to help determine irrigation needs and urban areas for flood forecasting.
They are not located near the meter or above weather satellites, as these are not practical or accurate locations for measuring precipitation on the ground. For stream behavior and flood control analysis, the U.S. Geological Survey has placed numerous rain gauges throughout watersheds, such as the one mentioned on Sweetwater Creek near Austell, Georgia, to create reliable data like flood frequency curves. The placement of rain gauges is critical for gathering data to assist everything from agricultural management to urban planning and disaster preparedness.