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View Full Version : Microwave-band Weather Satellite Monitoring Rendered Useless


Scott A. Kampas
12-20-2004, 02:30 AM
Forecasters face losing key tools (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4104355.stm)
Meteorologists fear they are losing one of their essential forecasting tools - microwave frequencies uniquely able to "see" through clouds from satellites.

They say commercial applications, for example mobile phones and collision avoidance systems, are ruining them.

I recall someone warning about this occurring on the wx-forums some time ago, and that it will get much worse.

Scott

Nick Smith
12-20-2004, 06:52 PM
Sounds like "ground clutter" on satellite images...

Ben Cotton
12-21-2004, 01:55 PM
Sounds like "ground clutter" on satellite images...The big difference is ground clutter is a somewhat unavoidable form of noise, whereas other services using the satelltie bands is completely avoidable. This reminds me of the BPL (http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/) issue, where the greater good is up against the almighty dollar. Losing these unique bands would be a giant step backwards for the art of forecasting.


Ben