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Counting raindrops 雨量计算 How to use mobile-phone networks for weatherforecasting 怎样利用移动手机网络预报天气 FORECASTING the weather requires huge quantities of data. 天气预报需要大量的数据信息。 Many of these data are collected by high-tech means such as satellites and radar, and thencrunched by some of the world s fastest supercomputers into predictions that are far moreaccurate than they were 20 years ago. 大部分数据是通过高科技产品，比如卫星和雷达收集起来，然后，由世界上运算最快的超级计算机来处理这些数据后进行预测，现在的预报已经比二十年前准确多了。 But low-tech tools are important tooespecially old-fashioned rain gauges, which arenothing more than tubes with funnels fixed to places such as rooftops. 但是，技术层次较低的工具也同样重要特别是老式的雨量计，其实只是把带有漏斗的量管固定在类似屋顶的位置。 Each technique has its upsides and downsides. 每种技术都有优缺点。 Radar and satellites can cover swathes of land, yet theylack detail. 雷达和卫星可以覆盖很多地带，但是缺乏细节性。 | 
