Probe Will Warn If The Earth Is About To Move For You
Illawarra Mercury
Saturday June 19, 2004
SCIENTIST and experienced skier Warwick Payten was shocked when the snowy Himalayan mountain he was about to descend suddenly fell away, triggering an avalanche.
Dr Payten narrowly escaped but he was disappointed he hadn't predicted the danger. That experience a decade ago inspired him to help develop world-first avalanche prediction technology.
``It (the avalanche) opened about 20 feet in front of me," he said.
``As the slope started to move off, I ran off the top of it and it ran down the hill. I was shocked, but a little bit miffed at myself (because) when I was walking on that snow it felt dead and I felt something was wrong."
Dr Payten, a scientist at Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), has spent the past five years designing the world's smallest, cheapest and quickest avalanche prediction technology.
Universities in the United States, a ski resort in Austria and heli-skiers in India are already using the device.
Avalanches are not common in Australia but at least 184 people died in the northern hemisphere during the 2002-2003 ski season, according to a web site connected to the American Avalanche Association.
Dr Payten developed the device in his spare time with partner Roddy Mackenzie.
Dr Payten said the device was lightweight so skiers and hikers could carry it in their backpack.
``It's basically a pole which looks like a tent pole and is about 3m-5m long," he said.
``At the bottom of the pole is a bunch of different sensors (including) a force sensor, thermometer and accelerometer."
The pole is called a penetrometer and is pushed into the snow where it gathers the data and sends it to a pocket PC.
The skier can use the data to assess the strength of the snow and therefore the probability of an avalanche.
The process takes less than two minutes and is about 80 per cent accurate, Dr Payten said.
© 2004 Illawarra Mercury