A new study has been able to use seismometers to sense the magnitude, velocity, and trajectory of floods up to 1.5 km (0.9 miles) away.
New research, led and reported by the University of Göttingen, explored the flood-detecting abilities of seismometers. The results were published in Geophysical Research Letters.
The onset and evolution of floods can be hard to identify using existing systems. However, seismic sensors already in place to detect earthquakes could be a solution to this problem. This could act as an early warning to save lives and lessen damage.
For this research, scientists turned an existing earthquake seismometer station near the town of Ahrweiler into a flood detection and tracking tool. Using seismological data from the time of the event, they reconstructed the fatal propagation of the disaster right up to the point when power loss cut the data stream.
They found the seismometer literally illustrated the track of the flood for one hour as it ploughed through the steep winding valley through the towns of Rech, Dernau, Walporzheim and Ahrweiler in Germany. By combining mathematical models, the researchers were able to estimate the speed with which the flood moved, to extract information about the rising water level, and the amount of debris – gravel, cars, oil tanks – swept away by the flood.
In fact, this data was the only systematic source of measurable information about how the flood evolved because the three existing water level stations in the valley were destroyed early on.
When the seismic data is analyzed, this method provides information that is valuable to optimize models of flood behavior for warning and rescue initiatives.
“If the data stream from that station had been available and analyzed as our research now shows, essential real time information on the magnitude and velocity of the flood would have been available,” says Michael Dietze, faculty of geosciences and geography for the University of Göttingen. “As 10 percent of Europe’s surface area is prone to rapid flooding by rivers confined in valleys, we may want to start thinking about new ways of flood early warning. The current network of water level stations is not enough to be adequately prepared for future events.”
Dietze and colleagues are currently working on a plan to identify further areas at risk of flooding and equip them with low cost “watch tower” seismometer pairs.
