Item: EVALUATING SIMULATIONS AGAINST MEASURED RADAR SPECTRA FROM AN AVALANCHE EVENT
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Title: EVALUATING SIMULATIONS AGAINST MEASURED RADAR SPECTRA FROM AN AVALANCHE EVENT
Proceedings: Proceedings, International Snow Science Workshop, Whistler, BC, Canada, 2026
Authors:
- Peter Gauer [ Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Norway ]
- Callum Tregaskis [ Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Norway ]
- Anselm Köhler [ Austrian Research Centre for Forests (BFW), Department for Natural Hazards, Innsbruck, Austria ]
- Anna Wirbel [ Austrian Research Centre for Forests (BFW), Department for Natural Hazards, Innsbruck, Austria ]
- Richard Koschuch [ IBTP Koschuch e.U., Austria ]
Date: 2026-09-28
Abstract: One major purpose of avalanche test sites such as Ryggfonn is to obtain measurements that can be used to characterize avalanche dynamics and to support the development, calibration, and benchmarking of numerical models. Observations often consist of point measurements or observed quantities differ from the direct result variables of numerical models which are mostly flow thickness and flow velocity in a terrain-following or cartesian coordinate system. Furthermore, simulations are subject to uncertainties in input parameters, such as release height and snow properties, for individual events. Consequently, developing robust methods for comparing observations with model results is a task in its own right. In this paper, we present an approach for comparing radar measurements with model outputs. To this end, MTI plots and range-gate spectra derived from radar measurements are compared with corresponding synthetic MTI plots and range-gate spectra generated from model outputs. Although the two types of data are not fully comparable, the comparison reveals discrepancies between measurements and simulations and highlights shortcomings in the current modelling approaches.
Object ID: ISSW2026_P1.34.pdf
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15788/1790098779
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): PETER Gauer
Keywords: avalanche dynamics, measurements, radar velocity spectra, synthetic spectra
Page Number(s): 1047 - 1053
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