The enhanced Fujita scale: Development and implementation

James R. McDonald; Kishor C. Mehta; Douglas A. Smith; J. Arn Womble

doi:10.1061/41082(362)73

The enhanced Fujita scale: Development and implementation

James R. McDonald, Kishor C. Mehta, Douglas A. Smith, J. Arn Womble

Civil Environ Construct Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The original Fujita Scale (F Scale) was introduced as a means of estimating the intensity of tornadoes and hurricanes by relating appearance of damage to wind speeds. The relationships were based on the extensive experience of Dr. Fujita but were never independently verified. Furthermore, the importance of construction quality was not recognized. and the number of damage indicators was limited. The Wind Science and Engineering group at Texas Tech University agreed to lead an effort to improve the original scale. The improved scale, known as the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale), defines 28 damage indicators and a number of degrees of damage for each one. A process of expert elicitation was used to relate estimates of expected, upper and lower bound wind speeds for each degree of damage. The Enhanced Fujita Scale was then correlated with the Fujita Scale by means of a regression equation. The National Weather Service implemented the Enhanced scale in February 2007. In its present form, the EF Scale is applicable only to tornado intensity.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 5th Congress on Forensic Engineering - Forensic Engineering 2009
Subtitle of host publication	Pathology of the Built Environment
Pages	719-728
Number of pages	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1061/41082(362)73
State	Published - 2009
Event	5th Congress on Forensic Engineering - Forensic Engineering 2009: Pathology of the Built Environment - Washington, DC, United States Duration: Nov 11 2009 → Nov 14 2009

Publication series

Name	Forensic Engineering, Proceedings of the Congress

Conference

Conference	5th Congress on Forensic Engineering - Forensic Engineering 2009: Pathology of the Built Environment
Country	United States
City	Washington, DC
Period	11/11/09 → 11/14/09

Keywords

Estimation
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Wind speed

Access to Document

10.1061/41082(362)73

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Cite this

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abstract = "The original Fujita Scale (F Scale) was introduced as a means of estimating the intensity of tornadoes and hurricanes by relating appearance of damage to wind speeds. The relationships were based on the extensive experience of Dr. Fujita but were never independently verified. Furthermore, the importance of construction quality was not recognized. and the number of damage indicators was limited. The Wind Science and Engineering group at Texas Tech University agreed to lead an effort to improve the original scale. The improved scale, known as the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale), defines 28 damage indicators and a number of degrees of damage for each one. A process of expert elicitation was used to relate estimates of expected, upper and lower bound wind speeds for each degree of damage. The Enhanced Fujita Scale was then correlated with the Fujita Scale by means of a regression equation. The National Weather Service implemented the Enhanced scale in February 2007. In its present form, the EF Scale is applicable only to tornado intensity.",

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McDonald, JR, Mehta, KC, Smith, DA & Arn Womble, J 2009, The enhanced Fujita scale: Development and implementation. in Proceedings of the 5th Congress on Forensic Engineering - Forensic Engineering 2009: Pathology of the Built Environment. Forensic Engineering, Proceedings of the Congress, pp. 719-728, 5th Congress on Forensic Engineering - Forensic Engineering 2009: Pathology of the Built Environment, Washington, DC, United States, 11/11/09. https://doi.org/10.1061/41082(362)73

The enhanced Fujita scale : Development and implementation. / McDonald, James R.; Mehta, Kishor C.; Smith, Douglas A.; Arn Womble, J.

Proceedings of the 5th Congress on Forensic Engineering - Forensic Engineering 2009: Pathology of the Built Environment. 2009. p. 719-728 (Forensic Engineering, Proceedings of the Congress).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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