There is research that finds cell phone towers are able to predict the next big flood. At least to help to predict one. The researchers from Tel Aviv University have found a reliable way to help predict the intensity of the next big flood by using cell phone towers across the US. Their model, which analyzes cell phone signals, adds a critical component to weather forecasting never before available. If this really works then this is very very good thing. Weather is changing from year to year. This would be a great tool to prevent victims from big floods. Do you think that this is possible?
I'm not quite sure if I understand the science behind this. How are they able to use the cell phone signals to figure out when a flood is coming? I don't think that it would be possible although it sounds like you've done your research so I'd like to hear more about what they do to figure out how this happens. I am racking my brains here trying to figure out what it is exactly that you'd have to do! Let me know when you've got it figured out. Thanks!
Hi bluedog,
as I understood it they are going to monitor specific and fluctuating atmospheric moisture around cell phone towers. It seams that moisture diminish radio waves that cell phones emit. So when signal is weak and there is a lot of moisture around they can worn people that something is not right.
I hope I explained it well. :-)
Maybe someone has more info on this?
as I understood it they are going to monitor specific and fluctuating atmospheric moisture around cell phone towers. It seams that moisture diminish radio waves that cell phones emit. So when signal is weak and there is a lot of moisture around they can worn people that something is not right.
I hope I explained it well. :-)
Maybe someone has more info on this?
No, you totally made a lot more sense. I had no idea that moisture diminished radio waves but it makes sense that when it's raining that I have worse reception so I think that's a good way for them to make sense of it. I think it also would be a very valuable weather tool in other ways as well. Thanks!
I notice the same thing. When we are having a rain storm, my cell phone drops calls or the reception is staticky. Interesting to know.
I want to know if there's something that you can do to increase reception if it's raining or something like that. Now that we know that rain decreases the signal, what can you do to increase it?
Well I really don't know that. That is maybe too technical question for me. first thing that came to my mind was some big antenna that is connected to are cell phone. But than it wouldn't be so mobile, would it. :-)
I think that there should be some antennas that can catch signal better then cell phone on it self.
I think that there should be some antennas that can catch signal better then cell phone on it self.
That's interesting. I'd like to know more about what they are seeing to determine that. There may very well be some ocurrences that can be measured that happen each time but I can't see what would happen there to predict a flood. If the humidity affects the propagation of the signal, there are other more precise ways of measuring humidity.
I think the major factor invloved in how well a cell phone works on a rainy day would be the fact that you are probably using it indoors and the outside of the building is wet, which would tend to block those high frequency signals from getting out or in. The rain itself in the air probably diminishes the signal too.
You can think of the signal as a beam of light to get some idea of how it will be affected. When it's raining your headlights don't show as far down the road as on a clear night. Radio waves will of course go through some materials that will block light.
About the antennas. There was a gradual changeover of cellphones to a different frequency band so that the increasingly popular hand held ones could have the antenna completely inside the handset. I'm not sure there is any antenna that would be more advantageous or practical anyway.
I think the major factor invloved in how well a cell phone works on a rainy day would be the fact that you are probably using it indoors and the outside of the building is wet, which would tend to block those high frequency signals from getting out or in. The rain itself in the air probably diminishes the signal too.
You can think of the signal as a beam of light to get some idea of how it will be affected. When it's raining your headlights don't show as far down the road as on a clear night. Radio waves will of course go through some materials that will block light.
About the antennas. There was a gradual changeover of cellphones to a different frequency band so that the increasingly popular hand held ones could have the antenna completely inside the handset. I'm not sure there is any antenna that would be more advantageous or practical anyway.
Njoynlife I forgot all about my physics until you pointed out that it's basically like a beam of light. Then I remembered all kinds of stuff like how rain has an effect on the wave length and also dopplershifts. I should go look over my notes. Thanks for reminding me.