TornadoAlert?

Wow...and I thought it was nuts that pharmacies could sell homeopathic crap...this takes the cake.

Royce Sheibal said:
This isn't some mythical or snake oil product.
Click to expand...

Sure it is, absolutely is. All 'snake oil products' quote some meager valid statement (that tornadoes are associated with certain sound frequencies, and that research has been done into tornado detection via these frequencies) and then rip you off with a product that doesn't work. As Jeff pointed out, yeah *maybe* it would go off when the tornado is about to hit you, (I strongly doubt it) but that's not what it implies. A weather radio would be 100X more useful and cost 1/10th the price. So, I'd call that fraudulent. If there is any science that demonstrates its efficacy, lets see it (sound of crickets chirping...)

ETA: from their website (tornadfoalertme.com):

How It Works The energy
produced by severe weather can be detected and analyzed by monitoring radio frequency
transmissions from the storm itself.
Tornado Alert™ performs monitoring and analysis and activates both an audible siren
and visual alarm based upon the intensity of electrical energy associated with a
storm
The patent pending technology used by Tornado Alert™ was field tested across the United States for 7 years, including the deadly tornado outbreak of 2011.
Unlike other devices on the market, Tornado Alert™ distinguishes between single dangerous lightning strikes, non severe storms, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. Tornado Alert™ issues alerts in real time based directly upon storm activity in your specific location. The alerts are completely independent of any other alert system.
.
Specifically,
Tornado Alert™
does not depend or rely upon the National Weather Service Emergency
Alert System (EAS). This direct and immediate detection of storm activity
gives the user an additional powerful tool to enhance their safety.
 
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The "device" listed does have some merit and scientific "backing". I will use backing in describing the fundamental reasoning behind the product but it should be understood that I am not validating the product by any means.

The theory behind the device and it's application revolve around acoustic frequencies and short term pressure changes in and near severe thunderstorms and specifically tornadoes. This is not a new theory, nor a scientific "breakthrough" in the field of meteorology as is somewhat hinted. Acoustic study of such has been going on for many years - mostly with limited results. This was due to the limited platform and distance from particular events. In 2008 I was contacted by a member of this now particular company who saw some of our acoustic data sets we recorded from that same year. We were asked if I would test bed a "device" for the 2009 season with the hopes that it would provide some of the same information as we had sent to Dr. Al Bedard. Not being able to work out a contractual obligation in detail, I kindly refused to assist and we continued with our project.

My understanding is that the prototype device was "installed" in a few various locations nationwide (I believe 4 locations) and that the "device" had a decent success rate. It should probably be noted that the success rate was highly skewed in ALL testing locations. Many of the test fail cases were simply not included in the results or changed for a pass criteria. For example: 25, April 2009 Enid, OK tornado. This tornado produced an acoustic signature that was recorded from the city of Enid proper after the tornado was in already in progress south of Enid. This event was given a pass test rate even though the "signature" was documented only 11 miles south of Enid. I might also add that the acoustic frequencies generated from the local wind farms were not documented or mentioned in any test case with this event or in this area, nor have they been - they simply ignored these man made "noises" in their documentation/tests results.

In 2010 the founder made some major modifications to the device that included VLF RF monitoring and as such includes that verbiage is the description:
How It Works The energy produced by severe weather can be detected and analyzed by monitoring radio frequency
transmissions from the storm itself.

That part of the device is nothing more than a glorified VLF receiver tuned to roughly 40Hz which is obviously prone to strong static interference (Think the bottom of the AM band) and as such the detection of static buildup can be heard from thousands of miles away. Again, not a new theory, nor one that I would want to bet my life on. The acoustics are certainly a different story and legit but the limitations of the device should be taken into account.
 
Matt Tottle said:
I beg to differ..

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Well, Matt, you've got me beat on that one.
 
Interesting info, Lanny--thanks! I know here at the WFO in Pueblo someone was testing these 'pads' as acoustic detectors for tornadoes; they were removed a few years ago and I'm not sure if anything came of the research--now im curious and will have to look into it.
 
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