International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings - Montana State University Library

Item: Winter Types and Snow Avalanche Activity Along the Arpaş and Bâlea Glacial Valleys - Făgăraş Massif (Southern Carpathians)

• • Title: Winter Types and Snow Avalanche Activity Along the ArpaÅŸ and Bâlea Glacial Valleys - FăgăraÅŸ Massif (Southern Carpathians)

    Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Grenoble – Chamonix Mont-Blanc - October 07-11, 2013

    Authors:

    • Mircea,Voiculescu  [ West University of TimiÈ™oara, Department of Geography, TimiÈ™oara, Romania, Bdul Vasile Pârvan, 4, 300223-TimiÅŸoara, Romania ]
    • Alexandru Onaca  [ West University of TimiÈ™oara, Department of Geography, TimiÈ™oara, Romania, Bdul Vasile Pârvan, 4, 300223-TimiÅŸoara, Romania ]
    • PatrikChiroiu  [ West University of TimiÈ™oara, Department of Geography, TimiÈ™oara, Romania, Bdul Vasile Pârvan, 4, 300223-TimiÅŸoara, Romania ]
    • Dana Micu  [ Institute of Geography of the Romanian, Romanian Academy, 12 Dimitrie Racovita, Bucharest, Romania ]

    Date: 2013-10-07

    Abstract: This paper discusses the correlation between winter types and snow avalanche activity, in the Arpaş and the Bâlea glacial valleys, located on the northern slope of the Făgăraş massif - Southern Carpathians (Romanian Carpathians). The high altitudes, the massiveness and the harsh climate represents a great attraction for winter tourism activity. According to Sibiu Mountain Rescuer Public Service statistics (founded by Ministerial Decision 140/1968), between 1968 and 2011, in Bâlea glacial were recorded 40 fatalities and 42 burials/injuries. The thermal variability of winters was calculated in order to obtain Winter Standardized Index. Between 1979 and 2011, were recorded 15 normal winters or 46.9%, 10 cold winters or 31.3%, 6 warm winters or 18.8% and only one very cold winters or 3% of total. To reconstruct the past distribution of snow avalanches we used dendrogeomorphological method and we set Avalanche Activity Index (AAI). We sampled and we collected 232 samples from 116 trees (Picea abies) in ARP1 stand (Arpaş glacial valley), 88 samples from 44 trees (Picea abies) in BLC1 stand and 70 samples from 35 trees (Picea abies) in BLC2 stand (Bâlea glacial valley). We have also determined three types of snow avalanche in our study area, small snow avalanches (AAI ≥ 10%), major snow avalanches (AAI ≥ 20%) and large snow avalanches (AAI ≥ 30%). We can conclude that the majority of snow avalanches occurred in normal and cold winters.

    Object ID: ISSW13_paper_P1-04.pdf

    Language of Article: English

    Presenter(s): Unknown

    Keywords: winter types, snow avalanches, arpaş and bâlea glacial valleys, făgăraş massif, southern carpathians, romanian carpathians

    Page Number(s): 235-241

    Subjects: avalanche activity snow avalanche weather conditions

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