A band of spectrum used for 5G communications could interfere with the use of radio frequency satellites to detect water vapor. This has been made known by two state agencies of the United States, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to the body in charge of granting telephone frequencies, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the face of to stop one of the bands it auctioned in March for 5G, the 24 gigahertz band, since it can interfere with the sensors that are used to ultimately predict storms (at a frequency of 23.8 gigahertz), which could reduce its effectiveness by an alarmingly significant percentage .
Thus, the deployment of 5G mobile networks could have a major impact on the ability to forecast the weather to predict major weather events.
Weather satellites use certain radio frequency bands in the electromagnetic spectrum to monitor water vapor in the atmosphere, but 5G networks can also use bands near these frequencies.
It seems that until now no one has realized that the potential 5G band is very close to the 23.8 GHz frequency emitted by water vapor. Radio signals at this frequency are what weather satellites use to track weather patterns, and the 5G signal could potentially interfere with this data collection.
International concern
Meteorologists warn that we are facing a serious concern that would affect the entire planet, as the result of the inclusion of 5G networks will be deteriorated forecasts, poor warnings about major storms and, ultimately, the loss of human life. It could make the difference between life and death, experts warn.
Instruments aboard satellites that peek into the atmosphere and study variables such as water vapor, rain, snow, clouds, and ice content are all crucial factors influencing our climate. What if we couldn’t trust this data?
According to Niels Bormann of the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts in Reading, England, this data “is a unique natural resource, and if we lose this capacity, the weather forecast will deteriorate significantly.”
Is it so much?
The truth is that the signal that some 5G telephone networks can transmit would produce a signal that closely resembles the presence of water vapor in the atmosphere.
“ We couldn’t tell the difference and therefore we would have to discard that data,” Bormann added. “That would compromise our ability to make accurate forecasts.”
The urgency of the problem is underscored by the fact that the US Federal Communications Commission and similar agencies in other countries have already started auctioning frequencies close to the 23.8 GHz frequency to future 5G network providers. . Additionally, other bands used to explore our climate include the 36-37 GHz band , which is used to study rain and snow; the 50 GHz band , which is used to measure atmospheric temperature; and the 86-92 Ghz band, which helps analyze clouds and ice.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine told the House Scientific Committee that his calculations, done with NOAA, predict “a very high probability” that “a lot of data” will be lost.
Of course, the association of wireless communications companies in the United States (CTIA), states that these statements are not correct and that they are not based on scientific evidence.
They all contain frequencies that are being auctioned in the United States. It is what we know. It remains to be seen if other nations will follow suit and sell these frequencies in their own countries in the coming months. The issue will be debated at a world conference in Egypt later this year.
Forecasters say the move in the United States has already compromised its ability to collect data, and they promise to pressure other nations to limit their use of crucial frequencies to preserve their ability to provide accurate forecasts. They accuse telephone operators of looting the radio spectrum to take advantage of wavelengths, and regulators of failing to protect natural frequencies vital for observing the Earth from space.
