Single and multiple sensor identification of avalanche-generated infrasound

Scott, Ernest D.; Hayward, C.; Kubichek, Robert F.; Hamann, Jerry; Pierre, John W.; Comey, Bob; Mendenhall, T. C.

doi:10.1016/j.coldregions.2006.08.005

Cited by 52 publications

(32 citation statements)

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“…The use of infrasound for avalanche monitoring has been increasing rapidly in the last decades, with significant improvements also on avalanche dynamics research (Bedard, 1989;Chritin et al, 1996;Adam et al, 1998;Comey and Mendenhall, 2004;Scott et al, 2007;Ulivieri et al, 2011;Kogelnig et al, 2011;Havens et al, 2014;Thüring et al, 2015). After the initial works with single infrasound sensors (e.g., Bedard, 1989), the use of infrasound arrays has improved significantly the signal-to-noise ratio (e.g., Scott et al 2007;Ulivieri et al, 2011;Havens et al, 2014), thus resulting in a larger efficiency of infrasound in detecting snow avalanches even at larger (few km) distances.…”

Section: E Marchetti Et Al: Automatic Detection and Front Velocity mentioning

confidence: 99%

Infrasound array criteria for automatic detection and front velocity estimation of snow avalanches: towards a real-time early-warning system

Marchetti

Ripepe

Ulivieri³

et al. 2015

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Avalanche risk management is strongly related to the ability to identify and timely report the occurrence of snow avalanches. Infrasound has been applied to avalanche research and monitoring for the last 20 years but it never turned into an operational tool to identify clear signals related to avalanches. We present here a method based on the analysis of infrasound signals recorded by a small aperture array in Ischgl (Austria), which provides a significant improvement to overcome this limit. The method is based on array-derived wave parameters, such as back azimuth and apparent velocity. The method defines threshold criteria for automatic avalanche identification by considering avalanches as a moving source of infrasound. We validate the efficiency of the automatic infrasound detection with continuous observations with Doppler radar and we show how the velocity of a snow avalanche in any given path around the array can be efficiently derived. Our results indicate that a proper infrasound array analysis allows a robust, real-time, remote detection of snow avalanches that is able to provide the number and the time of occurrence of snow avalanches occurring all around the array, which represent key information for a proper validation of avalanche forecast models and risk management in a given area.

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Section: E Marchetti Et Al: Automatic Detection and Front Velocity mentioning

confidence: 99%

Infrasound array criteria for automatic detection and front velocity estimation of snow avalanches: towards a real-time early-warning system

Marchetti

Ripepe

Ulivieri³

et al. 2015

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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“…However, the usage of infrasound for automatic detection of avalanches was rare (Chritin et al 2003;Scott et al 2007;Ulivieri et al 2011), because infrasound is strongly contaminated by noise produced by natural (wind, earthquakes) and artificial sources (planes, helicopters, industry). But the increasing demand for automated avalanche monitoring systems in order to verify artificial avalanche release and for mitigation efforts at facilities and transportation corridors has led to improvement of sensor set-ups, data processing, and algorithms for infrasound avalanche detections in the recent years (Ulivieri et al 2011Thüring et al 2014;Marchetti et al 2015).…”

Section: Infrasound Signals Of Avalanchesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Automatic detection of avalanches: evaluation of three different approaches

Schimmel

Hübl

Koschuch³

et al. 2017

Nat Hazards

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Automated detection of snow avalanches is an important tool for avalanche forecasting and for assessing the effectiveness of avalanche control measures at bad visibility. Avalanche detection systems are usually based on infrasound, seismic, or radar signals. Within this study, we compared three different types of avalanche detection systems: one avalanche radar, one infrasound array system consisting of four infrasound sensors, and a newly developed single sensor infrasound system. A special focus is given to the new single sensor system, which is a low cost, easy to install system, originally designed for the detection of debris flows and debris floods. Within this work, we analysed how this single sensor system could be adapted to detect also snow avalanches. All three systems were installed close to a road near Ischgl (Tyrol, Austria) at the avalanche-exposed Paznaun Valley. The valley is endangered by two avalanche paths which are controlled by several avalanche towers. The radar system detected avalanches accurately and reliably but was limited to the particular avalanche path towards which the radar beam was directed. The infrasound array could detect avalanches from all surrounding avalanche paths, however, with a higher effort for installation. The newly tested single infrasound sensor system was significantly cheaper and easier to install than the other two systems. It could also detect avalanches form all directions, although without information about the direction. In summary, each of the three different systems was able to successfully detect avalanches and had its particular strengths and weaknesses, which should be considered according to the specific requirements of a particular practical application.

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“…Hence, with these complementary technologies it will be possible to build up a reliable warning system, which comes along with only one seismic and one infrasound sensor (co-located) instead of using multiple spatially distributed sensors (arrays), and are the basis of the most current detection systems (e.g. [11]). However, the application of seismic and infrasound sensors for monitoring and detection of alpine mass movements is not a straightforward task.…”

Section: Event Detection: Illgrabenmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, infrasound technology has been used recently for the development of automatic detection systems for snow avalanches and debris fl ows [8][9][10][11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review on acoustic moni toring of debris flow

et al. 2013

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Debris fl ows and debris fl oods are processes that occur in high alpine regions with consequences on infrastructure and settlements. Recently, several studies have been conducted by the authors using a new approach to gather knowledge about debris fl ows using a combination of two acoustic sensors: seismic sensors and infrasound microphones. Both sensors have been individually used in a number of previous studies. But the potential combination of infrasonic and seismic sensors for monitoring natural hazards, which could take advantage of the benefi ts of both sensor technologies and the possibility of using this setup for early warning, has not been evaluated to date. As a consequence, in this study the most important characteristics of acoustic signals from debris fl ows monitored at different locations in the Austrian and Swiss Alps are summarized and possible interfering signals are presented. An approach of using this acoustic signal for early warning will be introduced and evaluated. In addition, the data will be compared with other measurements, such as fl ow depth, interpretation, verifi cation, and validation of the seismic and infrasonic data.

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Single and multiple sensor identification of avalanche-generated infrasound

Cited by 52 publications

References 0 publications

Infrasound array criteria for automatic detection and front velocity estimation of snow avalanches: towards a real-time early-warning system

Infrasound array criteria for automatic detection and front velocity estimation of snow avalanches: towards a real-time early-warning system

Automatic detection of avalanches: evaluation of three different approaches

A review on acoustic moni toring of debris flow

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