Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Gainesville residents looking for a cool breeze may have recieved more than they'd bargained for. University of Florida's Hurrican Wind Research Team demonstrated their hurricane simulator yesterday. The machine can create gusts of up to 120 miles per hour and is the largest of its kind ever built. The simulator cost a total of 500,000 including parts and labor. Assistant Professor Forrest Masters says the figures gained from the simulator can be used to better understand the threat of water during a hurricane. The study focuses heavily on "water intrusion" and low altitude hurricane winds, two factors that affect homes in real storms. Masters student Carlos Lopez who also works on the project says the knowlege he is gaining hits home after his expieriences with hurricanes in South Florida. The research will continue in the months following today's demonstration.