Item: CHALLENGES OF GLIDE SNOW MANAGEMENT AT THE HIGH ALPINE CONSTRUCTION SITE KAPRUNER VALLEY, AUSTRIA – A CASE STUDY
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Title: CHALLENGES OF GLIDE SNOW MANAGEMENT AT THE HIGH ALPINE CONSTRUCTION SITE KAPRUNER VALLEY, AUSTRIA – A CASE STUDY
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2024, Tromsø, Norway
Authors:
- Anna Heuberger [ GeoSphere Austria, Avalanche Warning Service Salzburg, Austria ]
- Michael Butschek [ GeoSphere Austria, Avalanche Warning Service Salzburg, Austria ]
- Thomas Etzer [ Verbund Hydro Power GmbH, Kaprun, Austria ]
- Ingrid Reiweger [ BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Civil Engineering and Natural Hazards, Institute of Mountain Risk Engineering, Vienna, Austria ]
Date: 2024-09-23
Abstract: The Mooserboden and Wasserfallboden water reservoirs, situated in the Kapruner valley, north of the main Alpine divide at elevations between 1500 and 2000 meters, are significantly impacted by glide-snow avalanches. The construction of a new pump storage power plant in this region necessitates a year-round construction site within complex avalanche terrain, presenting considerable challenges in avalanche risk assessment and control measures. As most avalanche start zones are located at elevations between 2000 and 2500 meters, glide-snow avalanches pose a threat to the construction zone from early winter onwards. Long-term meteorological data and documented avalanche observations in the area reveal temporal and spatial variations in glide-snow activity, with a notable increase in early to mid- winter glide-snow avalanches at all elevations. To address this rise in glide-snow avalanche activity, innovative mitigation techniques, such as the artificial induction of water into glide cracks, were employed. This study is divided into two parts: the first assesses meteorological and snowpack data to identify the relation with observed glide-snow avalanche activity as well as the occurrence of glide-snow avalanches over time in a changing climate. The second part evaluates the challenges and effectiveness of water-induced glide-snow avalanche control. Gaining deeper insight into the factors influencing glide-snow avalanche activity at Mooserboden can lay the foundation for further investigation and enhance the predictability of these avalanches. Deeper insights into attempts of artificial glide-snow avalanche release can help to better understand of options for temporal avalanche control.
Object ID: ISSW2024_O6.2.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Anna Heuberger
Keywords: Glide-snow management, artificial release, case study, water input, climate change
Page Number(s): 706 - 711
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