Tel Aviv University
Researchers report a new method for measuring rainfall amounts due to the existence of mobile phones
In an article published today (5.5.06) in the prestigious Science magazine, researchers from Tel Aviv University report on an innovative use of cellular networks: data from the cellular network was used to measure the amount of rain falling on the ground. The findings of the research show that the innovative method can measure the amount of precipitation with high reliability and a wide national coverage.
The research was conducted by Prof. Hagit Messer-Yeron from the School of Electrical Engineering, together with Prof. Pinchas Alpert from the Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences and Mr. Artum Zinewitz, a doctoral student from the Porter School of the Environment.
The researchers used measurements of the level (intensity) of the wireless electromagnetic signal transmitted between base stations in a cellular network, and were able to deduce from this data the amount of rain that fell during the measurements.
The weather affects the quality of cellular communication. This is a known and recognized physical phenomenon, and a lot of research effort has been made in order to reduce the effect of changes in the weather on the quality of reception in mobile phones. Because of the effect of the weather on the quality of the transmission, the cellular companies regularly measure the level of the transmission strength. The innovation in the current study is that instead of focusing on ways to reduce the effect of the weather on the reception, the researchers took advantage of the effect of the weather and the regular measurements of the transmission power - for the purpose of monitoring the weather. "We did the opposite process - from the disturbances caused by the weather, we deduced how much rain fell", explains Prof. Messer-Yeron. Since wireless networks for communication are already scattered over the entire planet, and in great density, the innovative idea will allow accurate monitoring of the weather in a widespread manner, without the need for special equipment (such as satellites or radar devices).
The report in Science is based on measurements provided to the researchers by the Cellcom company and made in Israel in January 2005. From the data on the strength of the signals, the researchers were able to construct a rainfall map, similar to the maps obtained from weather radar devices. The researchers showed that the accuracy of rain measurement with the new method is higher than the accuracy of the radar, and approaches that of physical measurements of rainfall.
This research is an example of multidisciplinary academic research, and it was carried out at the initiative of the researchers and without external funding. The realization of the idea was made possible by the very activity of scientists from different fields - in this case, electrical engineering and geophysics and planetary sciences - under one roof at Tel Aviv University, which enables exciting interdisciplinary connections.
For news on the subject at the BBC
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