News Post by Ryan Maue
A government issued report from the UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) sounds the alarm about the incredible impacts of climate change upon UK: Wi-Fi signal range and strength will be greatly affected because of warmer temperatures. Of course, there are other concerns like railroad tracks buckling, better wind turbines to deal with higher winds, and flood protection.
I think the UK Telegraph and Guardian are sort of mocking the story, especially with the deadpan language and imagery in their stories. To me, it seems there are better ways to promote infrastructure stimulus funding rather than highlighting the effects of climate change on Wi-Fi signals.
Climate change ‘threatens UK wi-fi connections’, says government report — UK Guardian
Climate change ‘could disrupt wi-fi and hit power supply’ — UK Telegraph
[note: commenter wiglaf says: They are missing a word in the title. It should read: Climate change regulation ‘could disrupt wi-fi and hit power supply’.]
You know, I consulted my textbooks on the effects of atmospheric temperature on the propagation of 2.4 and 5.8 Ghz RF. Nothing there, not even a coefficient.
Rain, yep, temperature, no.
Annei says:
May 10, 2011 at 1:51 am
It makes you wonder how they manage to operate in the UAE and other very hot places!
Herein lies the question;
Do they specify different kit/parts etc. for wi-fi in hotter countries? If not then the claim is bollocks.
I remember when trains went der clickety clack der clichety clack over the expansion joints, did some one forget to tell our post modern engineers that most metal expands a little with temperature increases. I must say I am impressed that stations in London have not been dragged northward in the last winter, it would seem there are some discontinuoses in the rail lines. The WI-FI thing is just dumb beyond belief.
The two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity. ~Harlan Ellison
Confirmation abounds.
This is coming bZ#thftt*ssptt… from deep in the%($KKK#FFT#(*&*Ftropics at 9 degrees norZZbcd$*%^&th. Wi-fi getting worse every F$*LD)%*day. Don’t know how long we %9WI$(DO*%$(can hold out – much worse than $*(DL#((&&we thought. Please adopt carbon %*(FIIBZZO$**@^&Vffftsds taxes to save us all! fffzzzttssfljk;pop.
re : Rail Breakdowns In High Temperatures
Here in NJ along the northeast corridor rail line we do have frequent breakdowns during periods of extremely hot weather (for us), in the 100F range. The cause is not rail line expansion but drooping overhead electric cables. When the air temperature is that high the overhead wires lose tension and the standing wave created by the pantograph doesn’t move at the required speed. Normally speed restrictions are put in place to prevent breakages, but we do get the occasional stalled train.
Obviously it’s possible to set the tension on the wires to cope with a higher temperature. I would imagine it’s difficult to change the tension on a day to day basis though.
Annoyingly enough breakages are also a problem during cold weather.
Mike.
Like Douglas DC, May 9, 2011 at 5:17 pm, in the 1960s I spent two summers in Las Vegas, Nevada working on a survey crew for the Union Pacific Railroad. We spent one week in Yermo, California, which at that time was nothing more than a stop for train crews. We stayed in an un-airconditoned railraod hotel where as far as I can remember the outside temperature never dropped below 80F and got as high as 108F. The tracks at Yermo are on a slight grade. Passenger trains travelling downgrade passed by like a bat out of hell. If I had only been aware of the potential danger to the passengers on those trains, I wouldn’t have been able to sleep–which I couldn’t do anyway because it was so bloody hot. I’d be surprised if England on its hottest day ever saw temperatures like Yermo in the summer. Part of our job was to sweep up the bodies when the rails buckled and the passenger trains derailed. Fortunately, we were never called to perform that function. Now that I have been enlightend by Ms. Spelman, I wonder why.
Jimbo – oh man, this could be hours of fun!
Father of Deadbeat Hipster: “For the love of Pete, when are you gonna get off your butt and go get a job?”
20-something Deadbeat Hipster: *pauses his MMORPG* “I totally tried to get a job today. Really…”
Father: “…and…?”
Deadbeat Hipster: *exasperated huff* “Global Warming!”
Weather does effect Wi-Fi signals under certain conditions, usually the technology evolves quicker than these “climate change” stories can be pushed out, the public at large wouldn’t even notice one tiny packet drop.
Weather on the other-hand isn’t climate!
This demonstrates yet again that MPs and Ministers havent bloody clue how things
work, most of them have never had a “proper job” they listen to drivel from “experts”
and repeat it to the general public mistakenly believing the public are as thick as
politians.
Actually, it’s all a bit of a misunderstanding, (see http://russep3.posterous.com/spelman-and-the-wi-fi-story-that-never-was), but it does point to the uselessness of MSM these days, who just parrot press releases without reading the whole document.
You see, when the full document mentions ‘wireless’, it clearly is meaning cell (mobile phone) networks, NOT wi-fi. Unfortunately, the poor sap who wrote the press release, thought wireless meant wi-fi, Ms Spelman read the press-release as did MSM.
That then begs the question whether cell networks need to strengthened to copy with a few extra degrees in the UK? Thought not.
For ‘copy’ read ‘cope’. Apologies
Hmm, sounds like time to buy a slightly higher gain aerial for my wifi access point… (sark)
Totally nuts with a sprinkle of refined insanity on top for good measure..