Item: Automatic Detection of Avalanches Using Infrasound and Seismic Signals
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Title: Automatic Detection of Avalanches Using Infrasound and Seismic Signals
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Grenoble – Chamonix Mont-Blanc - October 07-11, 2013
Authors:
- A. Schimmel [ Institute of Mountain Risk Engineering, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria ]
- J. Hübl [ Institute of Mountain Risk Engineering, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria ]
Date: 2013-10-07
Abstract: The ability to detect avalanches as they occur is essential for avalanche management and avalanche forecasting. Past studies have shown that avalanches generate signals in the lowfrequency infrasonic spectrum and induce characteristic vibrations in the ground and this signals can be used to build up a warning system. The benefits of this method include independence from weather conditions with regard to visibility, no structural need for sustainability, same system for different alpine mass movements (snow avalanches, debris flows,...) and monitoring from a remote location unaffected by the process. Several approaches to monitor avalanches with infrasonic or seismic sensors are existing, but to date the combination of seismic and infrasound sensors for an automatic detection has not been considered. Previous studies have already shown that seismic and infrasonic signals of avalanches are correlated and complementary and that the combination of these two sensor types can serve as a basis for an error resistant warning system. So the goal of this work is to build up a warning system that is based on a minimum of one seismic and one infrasound sensor, which are co-located, to detect mass movements with high accuracy directly on-site. Therefore a detection algorithm has been developed and the system was extended by a microcontroller, which can do the necessary calculation in real time and directly at the sensor site. The algorithm has been tested with avalanche signals monitored at the Vallèe de la Sionne test site in Switzerland and a first version of this new system was tested last winter at Kaprun in Salzburg.
Object ID: ISSW13_paper_P1-67.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Unknown
Keywords: avalanches, warning systems, infrasound, seismic
Page Number(s): 904-908
Subjects: avalanche warning avalanche detection seismic detection of avalanches
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