A team of Israeli scientists have devised a way to predict the intensity of flooding by turning cell towers into hygrometers, measuring humidity
Posted 07.07.2009 at 11:23 am
2 Comments
Cellular Towers: Flood Detectors?
Kubina/Flickr
Researchers from Tel Aviv University believe they've found a way to detect the severity of an oncoming flood in any given location using date from the area's network of cell towers. But it doesn't make use of human to human communications; instead, it revolves around measuring humidity in the air.
The radio/micro waves from cellphones and cell towers are directly affected by the amount of moisture in the air, so by analyzing trends in signal strength, an accurate reading of the atmosphere's humidity around the tower can be taken. By relaying this signal back to researchers when a flood-causing storm is likely, they can attempt to predict the magnitude of the event pinned to specific geographic areas. It has also allowed scientists to gain weather data on remote areas they had never been able to track before.
Since cell towers are so numerous and prevalent throughout the world, and wireless carriers already track this specific statistic, so using this technique (and technology) to detect floods would require little more than funneling the data to scientists.
Looks like cellphones might save the world after all. [Tel Aviv University via Eurekalert]
Want to learn more about breakthroughs in electronics, medicine, nanotech, and more?
Subscribe to Popular Science today, for less than $1 per issue!
Subscribe to Popular Science today, for less than $1 per issue!
2 Comments
To comment, please Login.
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 2013: American Energy Independence
Five amazing, clean technologies that will set us free, in this month's energy-focused issue. Also: how to build a better bomb detector, the robotic toys that are raising your children, a human catapult, the world's smallest arcade, and much more.
Popular on Popsci
Most Commented
Science
- FYI: Could Climate Change Cause More (And Bigger) Tornadoes?
- Scientists Create First Cloned Human Embryo
- Cold Fusion Machine Gets Third-Party Verification, Inventor Says
- State Drops Charges Against High School Student Arrested For Science Experiment
- 8 Ridiculous Nutrition Myths Debunked
- Giving White People The Illusion Of Darker Skin Makes Them Less Racist
- Space Tourism's Black Carbon Problem
- What Modern Humans Can Learn From The Neanderthals' Extinction
- FYI: Do Wind Farms Make It Less Windy?
- Climate Change Will Increase Heat-Related Deaths In NYC, Study Says
Most Emailed
Science
- The Week In Numbers: The World's Largest Lego Model, Viagra For Women, And More
- Your Complete Guide To White Wine [Infographic]
- Disco-Ball People And Other Amazing Images From This Week
- Disco-Ball People And Other Amazing Images From This Week
- Bridge Collapse in Washington State Sends Two Cars Plunging Into The Skagit River
- NASA Inspects Ion Engine Prototype For Asteroid-Hauling Rocket
- Decode Darwin's Handwriting To Help Science
- Will 'Libido In A Pill' Help Women Get It On?
- This 3-D Printed Bioplastic Windpipe Saved A Baby's Life
- Bacteria Found Growing In Subzero Arctic Frost, Which Is Good News For Mars Life
Most Viewed
Science
- The Week In Numbers: The World's Largest Lego Model, Viagra For Women, And More
- Your Complete Guide To White Wine [Infographic]
- Disco-Ball People And Other Amazing Images From This Week
- Disco-Ball People And Other Amazing Images From This Week
- Bridge Collapse in Washington State Sends Two Cars Plunging Into The Skagit River
- NASA Inspects Ion Engine Prototype For Asteroid-Hauling Rocket
- Decode Darwin's Handwriting To Help Science
- Will 'Libido In A Pill' Help Women Get It On?
- This 3-D Printed Bioplastic Windpipe Saved A Baby's Life
- Bacteria Found Growing In Subzero Arctic Frost, Which Is Good News For Mars Life
Online Content Director: Suzanne LaBarre | Email
Senior Editor: Paul Adams | Email
Associate Editor: Dan Nosowitz | Email
Assistant Editor: Colin Lecher | Email
Assistant Editor: Rose Pastore | Email
Contributing Writers:
Kelsey D. Atherton | Email
Francie Diep | Email
Shaunacy Ferro | Email
Today on PopSci.com
Copyright © 2012 Popular Science
A Bonnier Corporation Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Dear Editor:
Where were you on this one? In the following lede sentence, first paragraph of article, don't you mean "data" rather than "date".
"...using date from the area's network of cell towers"
-------------------------------------------------------------------
MultimediaByTyme.com
Robert1234: It would be nice to see the cell towers find a way to bring humanity to the people of Nazi Israel and remove the ghetto of Gaza. In violation of some 60 U.N. resolutions, Israel is one of the world's premier criminal nations and the ONLY nation on earth claiming the right to be a true apartheid nation. The real shame is that Jews worldwide are unable to see what Israel has done to their religion. Judaism is now a political statement, not a religion, and it's as abhorrent as any if the several dictatorships of the world. Odd, isn't it, that Iraq, Iran and Libya had more individual freedom and religious rights that Israel? The fact that Israel is THE problem in the Middle East explains a lot. Without Israel, things the world over would be better. Oh, and don't come up with the "God's people" crap. According to the text, Israel won't come into existence until Christ returns, and that sure hasn't happened. What that means is that, according to Judaism, this Israel is a fake and thus evil. Apparently, it's true, looking at what Israel has become.