ENGINEERING ANALYSIS INC.
SEISMIC DETECTOR OF TORNADOES INSTRUMENT PACKAGE
In 1995 as a part of a company-funded research program we designed and
developed the Seismic Detector of Tornadoes (SDT),
Instrument Package which we nicknamed "Snail". This portable package is
designed to measure the three components of the short-period seismic signal,
plus atmospheric pressure fluctuations, in the vicinity of a tornado. The
external appearance of the Snail resembles the National Severe Storm Lab
(NSSL) meteorological instrument package (commonly referred to as the "Turtle")
in size, shape, and weight. By such an approach, experience gained in the
handling and deployment of Turtles can be applied to the handling and deployment
of Snails. As shown in the figure, the one distinct
difference in appearance between the Snail and the NSSL Turtle is that,
to measure the three components of the short-period seismic signal, the
Snail has the geophone component, attached by a cable to the hemispherical
shell containing the electronics package. The pressure transducer to measure
atmospheric pressure fluctuations is housed within the hemispherical shell.
Recently one of the original Snails has been modified to allow for the
measurement of two components of the long-period seismic signal by means
of a tiltmeter assembly. This modified instrument package has been designated
a "Supersnail", as shown in the figure.
All Snails have been transferred to VorTek
LLC for further seismic data collection.
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