Item: Snow Slope Stability Modeling of Direct-Action Avalanches in a Continental Climate: Red Mountain Pass, Colorado
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Title: Snow Slope Stability Modeling of Direct-Action Avalanches in a Continental Climate: Red Mountain Pass, Colorado
Proceedings: Proceedings Whistler 2008 International Snow Science Workshop September 21-27, 2008
Authors:
- Hans - Peter Marshall [ Center for Geophysical Investigation of the Shallow Subsurface, Boise State University, Boise, ID ] [ Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, NH ]
- Chris Landry [ Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies, Silverton, CO ]
- Susan Hale [ Colorado Avalanche Information Center, Silverton, CO ]
- Jerry Roberts [ Colorado Avalanche Information Center, Silverton, CO ]
- Howard Conway [ Earth and Space Sciences Department, University of Washington, Seattle, WA ]
Date: 2008-09-22
Abstract: Direct-action, or storm related avalanches occur due to rapid loading during snowfall. Previous studies have shown that a simple snow slope stability model (SNOSS) can give insight into the timing of direct-action avalanches in maritime environments. While modeling the evolution of the strength of buried weak layers is extremely difficult, estimating the evolution of strength of new snow due to densification can be much less problematic. To investigate the potential for applying SNOSS to directaction avalanches in continental climates, we present results of model runs for the winter 2007-08 on Red Mountain Pass in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, and compare these results to detailed avalanche observations.
Object ID: P__8237.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Hans-Peter Marshall
Keywords: snow stability, snowpack modeling, avalanche forecasting
Page Number(s): 1006
Subjects: snowpack modeling microstructure variability
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