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Barometers In iPhones Mean More Crowdsourcing In Weather Forecasts

Posted by timothy on from the under-pressure dept.

cryptoz (878581) writes Apple is now adding barometers to its mobile devices: both new iPhones have valuable atmospheric pressure sensors being used for HealthKit (step counting). Since many Android devices have been carrying barometers for years, scientists like Cliff Mass have been using the sensor data to improve weather forecasts. Open source data collection projects like PressureNet on Android automatically collect and send the atmospheric sensor data to researchers.

2 of 79 comments (clear)

  1. I wish I could read by CO_gun_toter · · Score: 5, Funny

    I read the lead in three times, each time reading HeaLthKit as HeathKit. I must be officailly an old fart...

  2. Re:What for? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It can help GPS fixes be acquired faster. Barometers provide a rough estimate of altitude and can aid GPS fixes. See https://plus.google.com/+DanMorrill/posts/jVJhPyouWDP