SBIR-STTR Award

This project concerns tornado detection based on seismic waves. At the present time, the only generally accepted method for detecting when a tornado is on the ground is human observation. Based on actual seismic signals combined with eyewitness testimony, there is very strong evidence to indicate that a tornado in contact with the ground produces significant tornadic seismic vibrations (TSV), both long-period and short-period. The proposed program is designed to lead to a totally new way of detecting when a tornado is on the ground, based on the tornadic seismic signal (TSS) derived from the TSV. This seismic tornado detector (STD) system has considerable potential for use by government agencies for the protection of the general populace, as well as for use by the individual citizen for personal safety within the home. The specific research objective is to be accomplished during Phase 1 will be as follows: 1) Comparison of seismic records with tornado data to identify any additional chance measurements of TSS, 2) Continued collection of eyewitness accounts of TSV, 3) Improved understanding of the transfer of energy from the tornado to the ground, 4) Initial estimate of characteristics of TSS, 5) Design of STD instrument package, 6)Development of a test plan-for validation of STD system, and 7)Complete documentation of all results obtained.Commercial Applications:An STD alarm device could be marketed for use in private residences. In the twenty-two most tornado-prone states, where 91% of all tornadoes in the United States occur, there are an estimated 50 million residences. If 10% of the owners bought the product at a price between fifty and one hundred dollars, the market value would be 250 to 500 million dollars.

The Phase 1 study results provide strong confirmation that tornadoes on the ground produce significant seismic signals which a properly designed Seismic Tornado Detector (STD) can detect. The proposed Phase 2 effort should result in an operational STD system design, with considerable potential application by government agencies for the protection of the general populace, as well as by the individual homeowner for personal safety. The technical approach involves: 1) applying the Phase 1 results to the Phase 2 effort; 2) using the experience of the University of Memphis Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI), the Soil dynamics Laboratory of Michigan and the National Severe Strom Laboratory (NSSL); 3) maintaining good communications between research team members; 4) modifying the existing short-Period STD instrument packages to include Long-Period capability; and 5) using (where possible) existing designs for key STD components. The specific technical objectives are: 1) continued collection and analysis of chance TSS measurements; 2) detailed design of STD instrument package; 3) development of STD instrument package software;4) STD instrument package fabrication and assembly; 5) testing of STD instrument package; 6) development of deployment plan; 7) deployment of STD instrument packages; 8) recovery of STD instrument packages; 9) data retrieval and analysis; 10) development of detection algorithm; 11) design of STD prototype; and 12) complete documentation. Commercial applications:Two applications of the research are envisioned, both dealing with the detection of tornadoes. First, from the standpoint of both state and federal government agencies involved in the detection of tornadoes, an STD network, when used in conjunction with Doppler radar, should provide an accurate, efficient method to determine when a tornado is actually on the ground. Second, in addition to the development of STD networks another STD version could be developed for warning the individual homeowner.