ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ENERGY, INC.

Environmental  Science,  Global  Warming,  Instruments,  Warning  Systems 

Flood and Tsunami Warning Systems; Earthquake

and  Environmental  Monitoring;  Volcano  Alerting

     Flood and Tsunami Warning Systems,

     Earthquake and Environmental Monitoring

     Systems, and Volcano Alerting Services by

  Environmental Science & Energy, Inc.

  Charles B. Pyke, Ph.D.,  President, CEO, and Principal Scientist

(520) 625-8346

or (877) 373-4629

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Warning and Monitoring Systems:  Flood, Tsunami, Earthquake, and Environmental;  Volcano Alerting

Environmental Science & Energy, Inc. offers a variety of   Remote-Reporting Warning and Monitoring Systems for government, community, industry, engineering, business, education, media, farming, and individual applications.  These consist of remote-reading individual instruments and integrated systems, ranging from the simple to the highly complex.  

• Flood warning, including flash flood warning.  A network of ALERT (Automated Local Evaluation in Real Time) or other format rain and stream gauges in watersheds above communities that send precipitation or streamflow data to a central computer (police or fire station, city hall, or emergency management center), whereby officials or automated sirens or other warning devices can alert the public to an impending flood or flash flood.  The sensors and transmitters can be solar-powered, with adequate battery backup for cloudy, stormy periods (when they may be needed most).  Some locations may have AC power available as a back-up to charge the batteries, but AC power cannot be relied upon to work continuously, especially during storms.  Transmission of signals is best and most reliable via satellite, but radio transmission, sometimes with repeaters on hilltops, has been used.  Telephone line transmission is unreliable, especially during storms.

• Tsunami warning.  Sensors at sea, including satellite sensors, which can monitor the sea height for any abnormal patterns that could indicate the formation of a tsunami, especially if a major earthquake, volcano, or coastal landslide has been detected or reported.  These data will be evaluated by officials at a Tsunami Warning Center, and warnings to the public will be issued as warranted.

• Earthquake monitoring.  A network of seismic detectors located along major fault lines or on the coast nearest to a major subduction zone offshore, which sense the first motions of large earthquakes and send a warming notice to population centers and authorities some 30 seconds to 2 minutes away from the initial shaking zone.  It is only a monitoring system and cannot issue any advance warnings of an impending earthquake, but it gives people a few seconds of time to take cover before severe shaking will reach them.   The land-based sensors can be co-located with flood-warning sensors and integrated into an ALERT or equivalent warning system.  Sensors and transmission will likely be similar to that of flood warning systems (discussed above).

• Environmental monitoring.  Sensors and transmitters similar to those of flood warning systems - and possibly integrated into ALERT or other flood warning systems.  Elements measured are generally those of air and water quality, such as atmospheric ozone levels or concentrations of toxic substances in river or lake water or in ground water.

• Volcano alerting services.  Remote-reporting sensors placed in or near volcano cones or calderas wherever there is a potential of an imminent or potentially semi-imminent eruption.  Elements measured can include seismic activity, changes in ground elevation (using GPS measurements), temperature of ground or of steam emanating from the volcano, chemical composition of steam and other gases emanating from the volcano, and other parameters indicating the possibility of eruption.  Cameras can be mounted on the sensor supports to show the volcano cone in action or inaction.  Power and transmission should be similar to ALERT gauge networks and may be combined with flood warning and/or earthquake monitoring systems.  Signals should be sent to the U.S. Geological Survey or other seismic/volcanic monitoring agency, who will notify authorities who may implement voluntary or mandatory evacuation procedures. 

• Other monitoring systems include:

  • Reservoir level monitoring (individual, or integrated within an ALERT system). 

  • Water supply, streamflow, storm water runoff.

  • Power generation:  wind, hydroelectric, nuclear, solar, geothermal.

  • Sunshine monitoring for solar energy development.

  • Soil moisture and temperature monitoring for:

    • Agriculture and wineries - crop watering needs.

    • Infiltration rates - runoff and mud flow predictions.

    • Slope stability - landslides, rock slides, and mud slides.

    • Liquefaction potential - in the event of earthquakes.

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