Comparison of the Canadian and US tornado detection and warning systems

Tornadoes are one of the most powerful and destructive weather events. The frequency of tornado occurrence is highest in North America, especially in the US Canada is second only to the US, and approximately, 80 occurrences are reported annually. Communities are impacted only when and if a tornado touches down on the ground. Early recognition of tornadoes and proper communication of warnings in the pre-touchdown phase helps the public to be ready and respond appropriately and effectively. Given that tornadoes are hard to predict and the warnings give only a very brief window of opportunity to prepare for evacuation to a secure underground or other location, each activity in the detection and warning phases is critically important. This study is focused on conducting a detailed comparison of the tornado detection and warning systems in the US and Canada. The sequences of activities and their interrelationships in the tornado detection and warning systems of each country are identified and developed as networks. A detection and warning network for Canada is developed, using Calgary as a case study, whereas a separate network is developed for the US, showing how local residents receive tornado warnings initiated by a local weather forecast office. Moreover, collaborating partners are identified, and their involvement at each level of the information flow is recognized. The two networks are compared and critically analyzed, focusing on the key issues, such as prediction/detection capabilities, warning decision-making, warning dissemination methods, and the spotters’ role. This qualitative comparison supports the recognition of key areas that need to be considered in improving the tornado detection and warning system in Canada.     

The effect of providing probabilistic information about a tornado threat on people’s protective actions

National Weather Service issues deterministic warnings in a tornado event. An alternative system is being researched at National Severe Storms Laboratory to issue Probabilistic Hazard Information (PHI). This study investigated how providing the uncertainty information about the tornado occurrence through PHI changes people’s protective actions. In an experiment, visual displays of the probabilistic information and deterministic warnings were presented to fifty participants to report their expected protective actions in different scenarios. It was found that the percentage of people who expected to immediately take shelter right after receiving the weather information increased exponentially as their proximity to the threat decreased. When there was more chance that the information about occurrence of a particular tornado was false rather than true, in scenarios that the likelihood of the threat occurrence was less than 50%, providing it through PHI lowered the percentage of people who immediately took shelter. The ordinal logistic regression models showed that the probability of taking protective actions significantly changes by providing the uncertainty information when people have less than 20 min lead time before getting impacted by the threat. When the lead time is less than 10 min, the probability of immediately taking shelter increases to 94 from 71%, and when the lead time is more than 10 but less than 20 min, that probability increases from 53 to 70%, if they are provided with the probabilistic information. Presenting the likelihood of any tornado formation in the area did not have significant effect on the people’s protective actions.     

Evacuation behaviour of households and drivers during a tornado

With increasing concerns over the possibility of tornadoes in highly populated areas in Canada, emergency managers are looking into ways to mitigate the impacts of tornadoes. Given that tornadoes can cause enormous destruction, early warnings and proper evacuation actions are critically important in helping save lives. In this paper, a survey was conducted to analyse the evacuation behaviour of households and drivers during a hypothetical tornado warning situation in the city of Calgary, Alberta. Nearly 500 Calgarians took part in the online survey and provided information on how they would respond to tornado warnings after receiving them. This paper presents the results of the survey. Using probit models, the factors influencing these evacuation decisions are identified and discussed in detail. The results of the household evacuation model show the importance of improving awareness about the safest locations during a tornado. It further highlights the need for targeting the population under the age of 30, who are more likely to take unsafe evacuation actions. The model for evacuation of drivers shows that several factors, such as knowing the difference between a watch and a warning, awareness of safe cover, receipt of warnings through natural environmental cues and the level of education, trigger evacuation actions in avoiding a tornado threat.     

Tornado warning dissemination and response at a university campus

An online survey was completed by 2,921 students and employees at a large university following a tornado near-miss that required taking shelter. During this event, the university’s emergency alert messaging system was tested. The first alert message was received by over 66% of the sample within 15 min, and cell phones were the most common means of receiving this message—especially for students. Employees relied more on computer instant messaging than did students. Interpersonal communication was also important. The majority could correctly define tornado watch, tornado warning and shelter in place. Age and frequency of use of weather information were of mixed significance as predictors. Finally, over three quarters of respondents reported taking shelter during the event. Being female and being an employee made a respondent more likely to take shelter.     

淮河息县站流量概率预报模型研究

应用美国天气局采用的由Roman Krzysztofowicz开发的贝叶斯统计理论建立概率水文预报理论框架，即以分布函数形式定量地描述水文预报不确定度，研究了淮河息县站流量概率预报模型。理论和经验表明，概率预报至少与确定性预报一样有价值，特别当预报不确定度较大时，概率预报比现行确定性预报具有更高的经济价值。     

Prototyping an experimental early warning system for rainfall-induced landslides in Indonesia using satellite remote sensing and geospatial datasets

An early warning system has been developed to predict rainfall-induced shallow landslides over Java Island, Indonesia. The prototyped early warning system integrates three major components: (1) a susceptibility mapping and hotspot identification component based on a land surface geospatial database (topographical information, maps of soil properties, and local landslide inventory, etc.); (2) a satellite-based precipitation monitoring system () and a precipitation forecasting model (i.e., Weather Research Forecast); and (3) a physically based, rainfall-induced landslide prediction model SLIDE. The system utilizes the modified physical model to calculate a factor of safety that accounts for the contribution of rainfall infiltration and partial saturation to the shear strength of the soil in topographically complex terrains. In use, the land-surface “where” information will be integrated with the “when” rainfall triggers by the landslide prediction model to predict potential slope failures as a function of time and location. In this system, geomorphologic data are primarily based on 30-m Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data, digital elevation model (DEM), and 1-km soil maps. Precipitation forcing comes from both satellite-based, real-time National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), and Weather Research Forecasting (WRF) model forecasts. The system’s prediction performance has been evaluated using a local landslide inventory, and results show that the system successfully predicted landslides in correspondence to the time of occurrence of the real landslide events. Integration of spatially distributed remote sensing precipitation products and in-situ datasets in this prototype system enables us to further develop a regional, early warning tool in the future for predicting rainfall-induced landslides in Indonesia.     

Tornado hazards on June 23 in Jiangsu Province,China: preliminary investigation and analysis

This paper reported a tornado hazard happened on June 23, 2016, in Yancheng city, Jiangsu Province. The moving footprint of this huge tornado was from west to east. Shuoji, Chenliang, Goudun, Banhu, Xingou, Wutan towns in Funing district and Sheyang town in Sheyang district were severely hit by this tornado. This tornado along with rainstorm and hailstorm had claimed 99 lives and caused more than 3800 flats to collapse as well as damaged 48 high-voltage circuits. As the cold air from northwest met the subtropical high pressure system that forms over relatively cool water bodies (i.e., Indian and Pacific Oceans), such a powerful meteorological phenomenon was initiated. The strong connective airflow intensified the development of this tornado. Based on the preliminary investigation and analysis of this tornado, cost-effective timber structures with adequate anchorage of the framing to foundations and adequate connection between walls and roofs may be recommended to ensure occupants safety and reduce potential damage in these extreme wind events. Additionally, it is suggested to utilize early warning system along with geographical information system (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), and remote sensing (RS) (3S) to monitor and precast the occurrence of rainfall, hailstorm, and tornado hazards in future.

     

城市地下空间安全监测与预警指标研究

为保障城市地下空间开发利用的安全性,促进城市可持续发展,通过文献调研、现场调查和专家咨询等方法,分析提出城市地下空间监测的五项原则,将监测对象划分为三类：工程结构本体、周围岩土体以及周边环境。将监测指标归纳为变形类、力学类、振动类和宏观状态类共四类,其中变形类指标执行双控要求,其他三种指标执行单控要求。监测趋势预测分析可采用公式法、回归分析法、时间序列分析法、灰色预测法、神经网络法和支持向量机法等。全国各地监测控制值基本一致,但预警分级标准存在地区差异,其中北京市和广州市分级预警具有较大参考价值。目前城市地下空间安全监测存在七项不足：预警分级标准不完善,人工监测效率低,监测参数单一,监测信息缺少共享协同,测量精度较低,重监测轻预测以及缺乏数据融合和机器学习应用。针对这些问题,可采取七项措施进行改进：建立合理预警分级标准,发展自动化与智能化监测,多参数综合监测,应用远程监测与云平台,开发高精度测量设备,监测和预测并重,以及数据融合与机器学习应用。     

A qualitative study of mobile home resident perspectives on tornadoes and tornado protective actions in South Carolina,USA

Occupants of mobile or manufactured homes in the United States of America (USA) are highly exposed and susceptible to injury or death from tornado hazards. This problem is most pronounced in the southern and eastern USA, where tornadoes are frequent and mobile homes comprise upwards of 15 % of the housing stock. Recognizing this vulnerability, emergency management entities and the USA National Weather Service often recommend that mobile home residents evacuate to a nearby sturdy building or a specially-built tornado shelter when tornadoes threaten their communities. Previous research suggests, however, that only 30 % of residents follow this recommendation. In this research I aim to provide insight as to why many mobile home residents seldom undertake the suggested course of action for tornadoes. Using excerpts from twenty semi-structured interviews conducted during 2013 in South Carolina, I show that some individuals understand physical characteristics of tornadoes very differently than experts do. In addition, mobile home residents may also hold views that differ from experts about the ability of their homes to withstand tornadic winds and debris. Even if mobile home occupants pay close attention to thunderstorm hazards and might be willing to evacuate, they may prioritize protective actions for lightning or flash flooding over those recommended for tornadoes. Finally, the interviews reveal that there is much confusion over where to go, when to leave, and which route to take to arrive safely at a sheltering place for tornado hazards. I discuss some of the potential ramifications of the findings for theory and practice and suggest how future research might build on this work.     

Locating a point on a spherical surface relative to a spherical polygon of arbitrary shape

An algorithm for determining if any given point,P, on the surface of a sphere is located inside, outside, or along the border of an arbitrary spherical polygon,S, is described. The polygon is described by specifying coordinates of its vertices, and coordinates of some pointX which is known to lie withinS. The algorithm is based on the principle that an arc joiningX andP will cross the border ofS an odd number of times ifP lies outsideS, and an even number of times ifP lies withinS. The algorithm has been implemented as a set of FORTRAN subroutines, and a listing is provided. The algorithm and subroutine package can be used with spherical polygons containing holes, or with composited spherical polygons.     

基于随机雨型的山洪灾害预警模式

针对雨型随机性所导致山洪灾害预警预报空报、漏报率过高问题,为提升山洪灾害预警精度,依据概率分布传递扩散原理,以雨型特征参数为控制条件,提出了基于参数控制的随机雨型生成法,建立了基于随机雨型的山洪灾害临界雨量计算模型及考虑决策者风险偏好的预警模式。以裴河流域为例,对不同雨型集下的临界雨量进行对比分析,并确定研究区6h临界雨量阈值空间。结果表明:雨峰位置、峰值倍比、前期土壤含水量对临界雨量的影响范围分别为32%~34%、33%~34%、15%~22%;雨型较前期影响雨量对临界雨量影响幅度更大;由雨峰位置系数和峰值倍比(r,bmax)双因子雨型集所确定的6h临界雨量阈值空间为98~185mm;考虑决策者不同风险偏好的临界雨量预警模式合理可靠,对更合理地开展山洪灾害预警工作具有指导意义。     

Design and adoption of household tornado shelters for Bangladesh

Death tolls from tornadoes in Bangladesh are the highest in the world due to lack of storm warnings, poor communication, weak housing, and lack of shelters from strong winds in tornadoes and nor’westers. Based on surveys of housing types and designs in the Tangail district, a household tornado shelter is proposed to be placed in the elevated storage platform that is common in houses. The shelter is 2 m tall, 1.2 m wide, and 2–4 m long (4.8–9.6 m³ in volume) with the floor of the shelter placed one meter below the floor of the house. Walls are 7–10 cm thick and made of concrete or an earthen wall stabilized with cement or strengthened with bamboo or bricks. A survey of 200 residents of the region found nearly universal acceptance for the shelter design, and residents were eager for installation of the household shelters. The shelter cost is 2,500–10,000 taka (US50 to50 to 200) depending on local material and labor costs but residents were willing to pay an average of only 1,071 taka (US$21) toward the cost of the shelter. Families with greater income and land holdings and families in villages with recent tornado experience were willing to spend more for a shelter. A pilot project to install household tornado shelters in selected villages and monitor their use, along with continued efforts to issue storm warnings, communicate the warnings, and improve education about storm hazards, will prevent injuries and save lives in Bangladesh and reduce the descent into poverty that results from losses in severe local storms.     

Holocene vertical deformation outside the active rift zone of north Iceland

In Iceland, the main deformation activity occurs not only in the active rift zone where volcanism and seismicity coexist in fissure swarms but also in the transfer zones (north and south) where the main part of the seismic activity is located. Many studies described extension and vertical displacement associated with rifting and magmatism inside this rift zone. They have classically assumed that no deformation occurs outside the rift zone. However, few studies have already been conducted outside the rift zone. This work focuses on an area west of the rift zone in the Akureyri area, which displays an anomalous topography. We illustrate an ENE tilting of 0.23° since approximately 17,000 years ago using ancient lacustrine shorelines mapped in detail with a differential GPS survey and analysis of SPOT images. This degree of tilting corresponds to a vertical displacement of 160 m, i.e., a deformation rate of 1 cm/year, which is close to values measured in the active zone. This long wavelength deformation is compatible both with (i) the topographic anomaly of the Akureyri area, and with (ii) the very diffuse microseismicity that affects northern Iceland. The origin of this tilting is discussed and the different hypotheses (glacial loading response, rift uplift, transform zone effect, thermal doming, local magmatic intrusion) are reviewed. Our results, structural data and the topography are more consistent with a local magmatic intrusion inducing local doming. This work is the first attempt at quantifying long-term deformation outside the rift zone in Iceland.     

Spatially distributed rainfall information and its potential for regional landslide early warning systems

Crucial to most landslide early warning system (EWS) is the precise prediction of rainfall in space and time. Researchers are aware of the importance of the spatial variability of rainfall in landslide studies. Commonly, however, it is neglected by implementing simplified approaches (e.g. representative rain gauges for an entire area). With spatially differentiated rainfall information, real-time comparison with rainfall thresholds or the implementation in process-based approaches might form the basis for improved landslide warnings. This study suggests an automated workflow from the hourly, web-based collection of rain gauge data to the generation of spatially differentiated rainfall predictions based on deterministic and geostatistical methods. With kriging usually being a labour-intensive, manual task, a simplified variogram modelling routine was applied for the automated processing of up-to-date point information data. Validation showed quite satisfactory results, yet it also revealed the drawbacks that are associated with univariate geostatistical interpolation techniques which solely rely on rain gauges (e.g. smoothing of data, difficulties in resolving small-scale, highly intermittent rainfall). In the perspective, the potential use of citizen scientific data is highlighted for the improvement of studies on landslide EWS.     

Integration of a limit-equilibrium model into a landslide early warning system

Landslides are a significant hazard in many parts of the world and exhibit a high, and often underestimated, damage potential. Deploying landslide early warning systems is one risk management strategy that, amongst others, can be used to protect local communities. In geotechnical applications, slope stability models play an important role in predicting slope behaviour as a result of external influences; however, they are only rarely incorporated into landslide early warning systems. In this study, the physically based slope stability model CHASM (Combined Hydrology and Stability Model) was initially applied to a reactivated landslide in the Swabian Alb to assess stability conditions and was subsequently integrated into a prototype of a semi-automated landslide early warning system. The results of the CHASM application demonstrate that for several potential shear surfaces the Factor of Safety is relatively low, and subsequent rainfall events could cause instability. To integrate and automate CHASM within an early warning system, international geospatial standards were employed to ensure the interoperability of system components and the transferability of the implemented system as a whole. The CHASM algorithm is automatically run as a web processing service, utilising fixed, predetermined input data, and variable input data including hydrological monitoring data and quantitative rainfall forecasts. Once pre-defined modelling or monitoring thresholds are exceeded, a web notification service distributes SMS and email messages to relevant experts, who then determine whether to issue an early warning to local and regional stakeholders, as well as providing appropriate action advice. This study successfully demonstrated the potential of this new approach to landslide early warning. To move from demonstration to active issuance of early warnings demands the future acquisition of high-quality data on mechanical properties and distributed pore water pressure regimes.     

Exploring probable reasons for record fatalities: the case of 2011 Joplin, Missouri, Tornado

On the evening of 22 May 2011, an EF-5 tornado tore a path six miles long across Joplin, Missouri, USA, killing 162 people as it passed through the heart of the city. This tornado stands as the deadliest single tornado to hit the United States since modern recordkeeping began in 1950, surpassing the tornado of 8 June 1953 that claimed 116 lives in Flint, Michigan. The record number of deaths caused by the single tornado in Joplin was far higher than the average annual number of US tornado deaths over the last three decades. This study explores the reasons for the high number of fatalities caused by the 2011 Joplin tornado. Questionnaire surveys administered among tornado survivors and informal discussions with emergency management personnel and others suggest that five reasons are associated with the high number of tornado fatalities experienced in Joplin: (1) the sheer magnitude of this event; (2) its path through commercial and densely populated residential areas; (3) the relatively large size of damage area; (4) the physical characteristics of affected homes in Joplin; and (5) the fact that some residents ignored tornado warnings. Several recommendations are offered, the implementation of which should reduce future tornado fatalities not only in Joplin, but elsewhere in the United States.     

Debris flows caused by failure of fill slopes: early detection,warning, and loss prevention

This paper describes early detection, warning, and loss prevention for debris flows originating as failures of fill slopes. Worldwide, fill slopes constructed on steep terrain for roads, hillside residential developments, timber harvest landings, etc., are an increasing source of debris-flow hazards. Some fill failures that generate debris flows are the final stage of incremental failures that provide warning signs of instability in the months or years before the debris flow. Mapping and analysis of minor features, such as cracks and small scarps, on paved or unpaved surfaces of fills can identify incipient and impending fill failures that are major debris-flow hazards. Potential debris-flow paths can be mapped and risk assessments conducted. Loss prevention or reduction can be achieved by (1) prioritized maintenance, (2) prioritized repair, (3) monitoring, (4) warnings for emergency officials and the public, and (5) risk avoidance or reduction in land-use planning, zoning, cooperation between jurisdictions, and project development.     

Erratum to: Early warning of rainfall-induced shallow landslides and debris flows in the USA

The state of knowledge and resources available to issue alerts of precipitation-induced landslides vary across the USA. Federal and state agencies currently issue warnings of the potential for shallow, rapidly moving landslides and debris flows in a few areas along the Pacific coast and for areas affected by Atlantic hurricanes. However, these agencies generally lack resources needed to provide continuous support or to expand services to other areas. Precipitation thresholds that form the basis of landslide warning systems now exist for a few areas of the USA, but the threshold rainfall amounts and durations vary over three orders of magnitude nationwide and over an order of magnitude across small geographic areas such as a county. Antecedent moisture conditions also have a significant effect, particularly in areas that have distinct wet and dry seasons. Early warnings of shallow landslides that include specific information about affected areas, probability of landslide occurrence, and expected timing are technically feasible as illustrated by a case study from the Seattle, WA area. The four-level warning scheme (Null, Outlook, Watch, Warning) defined for Seattle is based on observed or predicted exceedance of a cumulative precipitation threshold and a rainfall intensity–duration threshold combined with real-time monitoring of soil moisture. Based on analysis of historical data, threshold performance varies according to precipitation characteristics, and threshold exceedance corresponds to a given probability of landslide occurrence. Experience in Seattle during December 2004 and January 2005 illustrates some of the challenges of providing landslide early warning on the USA West Coast.     

Early warning of rainfall-induced shallow landslides and debris flows in the USA

The state of knowledge and resources available to issue alerts of precipitation-induced landslides vary across the USA. Federal and state agencies currently issue warnings of the potential for shallow, rapidly moving landslides and debris flows in a few areas along the Pacific coast and for areas affected by Atlantic hurricanes. However, these agencies generally lack resources needed to provide continuous support or to expand services to other areas. Precipitation thresholds that form the basis of landslide warning systems now exist for a few areas of the USA, but the threshold rainfall amounts and durations vary over three orders of magnitude nationwide and over an order of magnitude across small geographic areas such as a county. Antecedent moisture conditions also have a significant effect, particularly in areas that have distinct wet and dry seasons. Early warnings of shallow landslides that include specific information about affected areas, probability of landslide occurrence, and expected timing are technically feasible as illustrated by a case study from the Seattle, WA area. The four-level warning scheme (Null, Outlook, Watch, Warning) defined for Seattle is based on observed or predicted exceedance of a cumulative precipitation threshold and a rainfall intensity–duration threshold combined with real-time monitoring of soil moisture. Based on analysis of historical data, threshold performance varies according to precipitation characteristics, and threshold exceedance corresponds to a given probability of landslide occurrence. Experience in Seattle during December 2004 and January 2005 illustrates some of the challenges of providing landslide early warning on the USA West Coast.     

Tornado shelter-seeking behavior and tornado shelter options among mobile home residents in the United States

Residents of 401 mobile homes in Georgia, Mississippi, Illinois, and Oklahoma were surveyed after they heard a tornado warning. Most residents (69%) did not seek shelter during the warning. Half of those who sought shelter went to the frame house of a friend, neighbor, or relative, and 25% of those sought shelter in a basement or underground shelter. Some of the places where residents sought shelter were of dubious quality, such as their own mobile home, another mobile home, or in an out-building. Twenty-one percent of mobile home residents believed that they had a basement or underground shelter available as shelter during a tornado warning, and about half of those said they would drive to the shelter. Residents said they would drive if the shelter was more than 200 m away. Fifteen percent actually had a basement or underground shelter suitable as shelter within 200 m of their mobile home, but only 43% of the residents would use those shelters. The most common reason cited for not using the shelters was that they did not know the people who lived there. Likewise, a frame house or other sturdy building was within 200 m of 58% of the mobile homes, but only 35% of the residents stated they would use those houses for shelter. Thirty-one percent of mobile home residents had a ditch that was at least 0.5 m deep within 200 m of the mobile home. However, 44% of these ditches had utility lines overhead, 23% had water in them, and 20% had trees overhead. The limited tornado shelter options among mobile home residents in the United States needs to be incorporated into safety instructions so that residents without nearby shelter are allowed to drive to safer shelter.