What historical weather data can tell developers
The life of the average app developer can be tough. Not only do you have to contend with an ever-crowded application marketplace, but you also have to keep abreast with an expanse of new technologies in order to offer up something fresh for the market. And whilst changes range broadly, from the hardware of the average Smartphone right through to the features of the latest API, the challenges that are presented to a developer who is specifically creating a weather app can be considerable.
Here we take a look at a few ways in which historical weather data can help shape weather application ideas and features, rather than be hindered by the otherwise unpredictable nature of the market.
Historical weather tells developers that the future may be anything but predictable
If there is one particularly important insight that past weather data can provide, it’s that the future of weather is anything but reliable. Even over the course of the last decade the average temperature around the world has risen in 94% of the countries around the world, as well as global sea levels rising by about 3 millimetres each year (which is double the rate of the last few years of the 20th century [World Meteorological Organization 2013]).
Historical weather tells developers that their data can be the foundations upon which the future generations rely
Whilst the majority of weather app developers may focus in on serving up weather predictions for the days and weeks ahead for western commutes or that well deserved holiday, others focus in on crafting apps that can predict weather disasters, or the immediate weather events thereafter. And it seems that the history of weather may just highlight that such applications are long overdue, such as the Mozambique Flood of 2000 (which killed 800 people and 20,000 cattle), the East Africa Drought of 2011 (which killed between 50,000 and 260,000 people) and the European Heatwave of 2003 (which killed 70,000 people) have each shown.
Historical weather tells developers that there is a world of business implications for properly harnessed weather data
The weather around the world is intrinsic to a plethora of business markets. And where there is weather that affects the supply and demand of products, there is a need to predict weather and the logistics of business to flex and fit to such weather patterns.
Perfect examples of which include the extreme, such as where emergency supplies must be shipped to certain regions. It may also include the everyday mundane, such as the management of large retail companies that must factor in the timeliness of deliveries that may span time zones, countries and continents (as well as their associated weather changes).
The APIXU weather API is promising to shake up the realm of app development for those working with and demanding the most robust of weather based data. And with a team working behind the scenes on continually advancing the technology it seems that the future of the otherwise humble weather API is looking rather exciting, offering up Historical weather actuals, Analytics API and a Map Layer API.
