International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings - Montana State University Library

Item: Avalanche Trigger Locations in Complex Terrain

• • Title: Avalanche Trigger Locations in Complex Terrain

    Proceedings: Proceedings, 2012 International Snow Science Workshop, Anchorage, Alaska

    Authors:

    • Zachary M. Guya  [ Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT ]
    • Karl W. Birkeland  [ Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT ]  [ USDA Forest Service National Avalanche Center, Bozeman, MT ]

    Date: 2012

    Abstract: More winter recreationists are venturing into “extreme” terrain each year, and avalanche fatalities in that terrain are increasing. The slopescale spatial variability of snow stability and how it relates to this complex terrain is critically important but poorly understood. Persistent weak layers account for the failure layer in most avalanche fatalities (Schweizer and Jamieson, 2001). Although many studies have characterized these depth hoar, surface hoar, and near surface faceted layers (e.g., Akitaya, 1974; Birkeland, 1998; Lang et al., 1984), few studies have attempted to predict their presence at the slope scale. The results from studies characterizing the spatial variability of snow on slopes have varied tremendously (Schweizer et al., 2008), but terrain is commonly cited as a potential source of variability (e.g., Campbell and Jamieson, 2007; Föhn, 1989; Harper and Bradford, 2003; Jamieson, 1995). Only a few studies have attempted to use terrain to model weak layer presence, but these were all on relatively simple slopes below treeline (Birkeland et al., 1995; Lutz and Birkeland, 2011; Shea and Jamieson, 2010). This extended abstract summarizes a unique study that characterizes and models persistent weak layers and slabs on slopes in complex, alpine terrain. More details about this work can be found in Guy (2011) and Guy and Birkeland (under review).

    Object ID: issw-2012-458-461.pdf

    Language of Article: English

    Presenter(s): unknown

    Keywords: winter recreation, spatial variability, slope

    Page Number(s): 458-461

    Subjects: terrain parameters trigger locations dynamic avalanche modeling

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