When studying the effects of natural disasters, it’s not always possible to wait around until one occurs. To help better understand the power of wind and water, scientists are taking advantage of simulators capable of reproducing hurricanes, floods, and other potential threats to communities. Five notable simulators, hosted at universities across the country, include:
Iowa State’s tornado simulator, which was developed to study the interaction of tornadoes with man-made structures.
Florida International University’s Wall of Wind facility, which tests low-rise structures and building materials against forces comparable to those in a hurricane.
Oregon State’s Large Wave Flume and Directional Wave Basin, which offer the ability to test storm waves, tsunamis, and overland flooding, for both natural and built up environments.
The University of Miami’s SUSTAIN Laboratory, which can generate conditions capable of mimicking a Category 5 hurricane, to help improve hurricane forecasting.
While these devices can’t reproduce the scale of a true disaster, they can provide insights into how to prepare and recover when one strikes.
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