> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.siftstack.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Step 6: Create a new signal using Calculated Channels
export const SiftIcon = ({className}) => ;
## Overview
Imagine you want to define new signals that simplify downstream analysis, capture domain-specific logic, or highlight important patterns not directly available from raw data. This is where [Calculated Channels](../../documentation/transform/create-a-derived-signal) come in.
Calculated Channels allow you to derive new signals from one or more existing telemetry Channels using expressions. For example, you can compute the difference between `max_air_temp(C)` and `min_air_temp(C)` to track the daily air temperature swing. These derived signals make it easier to capture trends, express engineering insight, and support downstream diagnostics or visualization.
Calculated Channels do not modify the source data. The original telemetry remains intact while your calculations are saved separately, giving you full flexibility to experiment, iterate, and extend your analysis without altering the raw dataset.
## Create a Calculated Channel
Now, let's create a Calculated Channel that computes the difference between `max_air_temp(C)` and `min_air_temp(C)` to capture the daily air temperature swing and see how it appears alongside the original telemetry in Explore.
1. In **Sift**, click .
2. Click the **Calculated Channels** tab.
3. Click **New Calculated Channel**.
4. In the **Calculated Channel name** box, enter:
```
fl_air_temp_swing(C)
```
5. Replace `fl` with your own initials.
6. In the **Asset name** box, select your Asset (for example, **fl\_mars\_env\_monitoring\_station**).
7. In the **Input Channels** list, select the following Channels:
* **max\_air\_temp(C)**
* **min\_air\_temp(C)**
8. In the **Enter an expression** box, enter:
```
$1 - $2
```
9. Click **Save**.
## Plot Calculated Channel
Now that you’ve created a Calculated Channel, it’s time to view it alongside the original telemetry. In this step, you’ll plot the new signal with its source Channels to observe how the derived values compare over time.
1. In **Sift**, click .
2. Click the **Runs** tab.
3. In the **Run name or description** box, enter:
```
fl_env_telemetry_two_thousand_twenty_one
```
4. Replace `fl` with your own initials.
5. Click your Run from the search results to open it.
6. Click **Explore**.
7. In the **Channels** tab, click the following Channels:
1. **max\_air\_temp(C)**
2. **min\_air\_temp(C)**
8. Click the **Calculated Channels** tab.
9. In the **Calculated Channels** tab, click **fl\_air\_temp\_swing(C)**.
The Calculated Channel offers a fresh way to understand the data by combining existing signals into something more meaningful. Instead of looking at individual temperature readings, you can now see how much the air temperature changes from day to night. This helps you spot patterns or unusual behavior that might not be obvious when looking at the raw values alone.