Avalanche Detection Using Atmospheric Infrasound

Details

• Creators:
  Bedard, A. J., Jr.
• Corporate Creators:
  United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Corporate Contributors:
  Colorado. Department of Transportation
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Avalanches
  • Detection and identification
  • Detectors
  • Directivity pattern
  • Sound
  • Warning systems
• Publication/ Report Number:
  CDOT-DTD-R-97-4
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States ; Colorado
• Edition:
  Final Report: Winter 1994 -1995
• Corporate Publisher:
  Colorado. Department of Transportation
• Description:
  This report describes the phenomena that snow avalanches produce sounds in the 0.5 to 5.0 Hertz range. It also documents testing of an infrasound detection system to detect snow avalanches in the southwest mountains of Colorado. Two infrasound sensors were installed so the direction of the sound could be determined by comparing the phasing and arrival times. Avalanche detection was sometime obscured because of the high mountains nearby diverting the sound and causing clear-air turbulence. Linking sound events with avalanche events was hampered by the fact that the time of actual avalanches could only be determined within a 12-hour period. Results were encouraging, but further testing is necessary to better define the sound patterns produced by avalanches before such a system can be used in conjunction with a motorist warning system. Synergistic use of these detectors may be possible because of their ability to detect tornados and worldwide nuclear bomb testing.
• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/93478/dot_93478_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 7.67 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f715b2ad4f99bdf0105caaedd03f868f7dad1fedfdc1c9a88cdccc80fe2ea4fb3eac8845e19393440cc19f765663941603d4b277d6b74ae30d0628dd46f0fbb1