A simple and potentially economical method of seismic survey was developed by the scientists at the Arkhangelsk Institute of Ecological Problems of the North and the Schmidt Institute of Physics of the Earth (both a part of the Russian Academy of Sciences). This method uses wind and their effect on causing large buildings and skyscrapers to sway, sending small vibrations through the ground.
Winds are rather strong in the surface atmospheric layers. Internal whirlwinds occur, creating wind surges. Wind impulses cause vibrations to the objects protruding from the relief for 10 meters and more, these vibrations, for their part, being transmitted to the earth’s crust.
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Nevertheless, the method also has shortcomings. The wind is blowing at different velocity, therefore, wind vibrations have a non-constant amplitude. This inconvenience can be avoided in two ways. Additional vibration recorders can be installed in the vicinity of the source, and then readings of all devices are to be compared. Changes in vibrational amplitude of each construction can be statistically evaluated and the researchers can further work with one station.
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