Global Climate Science Project Will Use Sensor Data From Android Phones To Improve Weather Forecasting

Nothing can be worse than bad weather conditions spoiling your day’s plans and that’s why more and more initiatives are being made to improve weather forecasting.

One prime example of the above-mentioned phenomenon is related to a major global climate science project that hopes to use sensor data from Android Phones to enhance weather predictions.

In case you weren’t already aware, all smartphones carry a number of intricate sensors that very quietly carry out numerous tasks. From GPS and magnetometers to biometric sensors and barometers too- there is great reliance on sensor data across the board.

This is probably where the initial idea of Android phones being linked to satellites to better predict the weather around you came in the first instance.

The new research project is being funded by the European Space Agency and is called Camaliot.

Moreover, the platform announced how it would specifically be targeting Android users across the globe as it outlines device GPS as an effective means for data collection. In case you’re wondering why, well, the benefit is greater accuracy when it comes down to weather forecasts.

In order to actually become a part of the project, users will require the 7.0 Android version or later, alongside satellite navigation ability. This will allow the recording of signal strength as well as the distance present between satellites and other phones connecting them together.

Similarly, researchers are hopeful of gathering other data like atmospheric conditions or even alterations in the moisture saturation levels.

This data combined with machine learning is hoped to make better improvements when it comes down to weather forecasting models. Other ambitious goals put forward by the project include tracking ionospheric changes that assist in monitoring space weather.

While it didn’t give too much information, the project also hopes to one day collect sensor information from these devices that are connected to the ‘Internet of Things'.

Recently, Camaliot provided a specific list of over 50 phones that would be able to participate in the project and that includes Google Pixel as well as Samsung Galaxy Models.

Hence, those that are keenly interested in making a difference to the already present weather forecasting model can simply download Camaliot from the Play Store, follow a set of instructions and then begin using it with immediate effect.


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