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New Technology Uses Cellular Towers For Super-Accurate Weather Measurements

Posted by timothy on from the gives-each-droplet-ipv6-address dept.

Iddo Genuth (903542) writes "Israeli scientists from the Tel Aviv University perfected a method for using cell phone service towers' microwave emitters to measure rain and snow and even (for the first time ) detect fog with great accuracy over vast areas in real time. The research team members have analyzed endless amounts of raw cellular data and developed more accurate ways to measure meteorological information and added more parameters that they can now measure using their growing database. When combined with existing meteorological monitoring technologies such as radars and local ground based weather stations, the results show unprecedented level of accuracy that can give better and further weather forecast as well as special warnings about upcoming floods, fog and hail which can affect both people and crop production."

7 of 42 comments (clear)

  1. We live in the future by ArcadeMan · · Score: 2, Funny

    Too bad the post office isn't as efficient as the weather service.

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    1. Re:We live in the future by Noah+Haders · · Score: 2, Insightful

      +1 hoverboards don't work on water.

    2. Re:We live in the future by tlhIngan · · Score: 5, Informative

      Too bad the post office isn't as efficient as the weather service.

      Actually, the post office is remarkably efficient, given the volumes of mail they carry. USPS alone, in one day carries more than FedEx annually, and in 3, more than UPS. (Take that, late Christmas 2013 presents).

      They have to be efficient otherwise the whole system breaks down in short order. And by law of big numbers, of course, they'll run into problems. It ain't nice when it happens via the mail, but FedEx and UPS can be completely hopeless when it's their package. (You'd think with all that tracking information they could easily find a missing or lost package, but no. If a package gets scanned out but not scanned in, you're SOL).

  2. NSA - National Storm Agency by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    In a related story, the NSA has received generous funding to start producing detailed weather forecasts.

  3. Weather Rules by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 4, Funny

    Turns out that it's easy to measure the weather with a cell phone tower.

    • If cell phone tower casts a shadow, the sun is shining.
    • If tower is wet, it is raining.
    • If tower is white, it is snowing
    • If tower is swaying back and forth, there is a high wind.

    ...

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  4. Re:Military Applications by cellocgw · · Score: 2

    The military application is that it is rumoured to be able to detect stealth aircraft.

    No rumor that. Dunno about cell towers, but it was shown pretty conclusively in the '90s that the "hole in the sky" caused when a stealth aircraft blocks FM radio signals can be seen. Depends of course on having a good FM sensor and a solid transmitter or two in the area.

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  5. Re:We live in the future tsarkon reports by sjames · · Score: 2, Funny

    Awwww, did I make someone feel like a braying ass?

    Who's a braying ass? YOU're a braying ass, yes you ARE!

    Learn to speak like a grownup and I'll stop with the baby talk.