Natural Disasters Can Now Be Detected Before It Hits, Will This Device Be A Breakthrough?

Mother Nature sends us unpredictable disasters. Earthquake, Tornados, and Volcanic eruptions are those among the many. It leaves us broken roads, the collapse of building, burning of fields and sometimes death of humans. Currently, experts conducted a research to detect disasters before it comes. Will this be a science breakthrough?

A team of researchers from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, invented a small ring laser interferometer. The laser beam was split into two parts, which can detect both atmospheric and geological infrasound.  Their invention could hopefully detect geophysical effects coming from connective storm's infrasound and ground rotation coming from an earthquake. This potential technology can be used as an early-warning system for natural disaster.

The device can detect and analyze sound waves that obtain frequencies below the limit of the human ears. Professor of physics at Hendrix College Robert Dunn shred that "the ring laser was able to "clearly show the frequency spectrum of the infrasound." The team also found out that the device can detect infrasound coming from a tornado 30 minutes before it hits the ground.  

Robert Dunn stated that "The detection of infrasound 30 minutes before a tornado is on the ground, in conjunction with Doppler radar, could prove very useful as an early warning system." He also added that through its ability to detect earthquake-generated seismic waves, it can help lessen the damage cause by the quake, because codes of the buildings often neglect the grounds rotation effects, according to IFL Science.

Ringed laser interferometer can also detect volcanoes and hurricanes. Robert Dunn also suggested that the device can help ensure the safety of commercial aircraft which pass by locations such as the Aleutian Islands where volcanoes are found, in which volcanic eruptions can destroy jet engines.

However, the results of their research are still considered preliminary, the National Science Foundation Research in Undergraduate Institutions award gave them support for them to continue the study. For this project can be considered very helpful to detect the natural disaster, as reported by Phys.Org.