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IBM’s weather forecast system to tap users’ phones for data
Why in news?
- International technology company IBM plans to make a high-resolution weather forecast model that will also rely on user-generated data to improve the accuracy of forecasts available in India.
More in news
- About the Forecast System IBM GRAF:
(1) High Resolution forecasts: Forecasts at a resolution of 3 kilometres can be generated which is a significantly higher resolution than the 12-kilometre models used by the India Meteorological Department to generate forecasts.
(2) Dynamic Modelling: These weather forecast techniques rely on dynamic modelling and collect a trove of atmospheric and ocean data, crunch it in supercomputers and generate forecasts over desired time-frames — three days, weekly or fortnightly.
(3) Accuracy: forecasts via IBM GRAF are 30% more accurate than those generated by 12-km resolution models-as per IBM
(4) IBM relies on a global network of sensors — automatic weather station, data buoys & barometric pressure data from cell phones of users who’ve downloaded the application, for the forecast.
(5) Free Download: Weather forecasts will be available to individuals for free download and can be used by farmers.
- Study by IBM found that 72% Indians believed that the local economy had been disrupted by a severe weather event in the past year and 89% were concerned that climate change could negatively impact the economy.
Sources
The Hindu