International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings - Montana State University Library

Item: SMALL-AVALANCHE EXPERIMENTS IN NISEKO, JAPAN: TRIALS AND RESULTS 2016–2025

• • Title: SMALL-AVALANCHE EXPERIMENTS IN NISEKO, JAPAN: TRIALS AND RESULTS 2016–2025

    Proceedings: Proceedings, International Snow Science Workshop, Whistler, BC, Canada, 2026

    Authors:

    • Yoichi Ito  [ Snow and Ice Research Center, National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED), Japan ]
    • Kouichi Nishimura  [ Professor Emeritus of Nagoya University, Japan ]  [ Yukiken Snow Eaters Co. Ltd., Japan ]
    • Satoru Yamaguchi  [ Snow and Ice Research Center, National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED), Japan ]
    • Yoshihiko Saito  [ Yukiken Snow Eaters Co. Ltd., Japan ]
    • Hirofumi Niiya  [ Research Institute for Natural Hazards and Disaster Recovery, Niigata University, Japan ]
    • Sojiro Sunako  [ Snow and Ice Research Center, National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED), Japan ]
    • Kae Tsunematsu  [ Faculty of Science, Yamagata University, Japan ]
    • Ryo Honda  [ Mount Fuji Research Institute, Japan ]
    • Shinichiro Horikawa  [ Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Japan ]
    • Koji Fujita  [ Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Japan ]
    • Tsubasa Okaze  [ School of Environment and Society, Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan ]
    • Cristina Pérez-Guillén  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Switzerland ]
    • Dieter Issler  [ Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), Norway ]
    • Piotr Kupiszewski  [ Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), Norway ]
    • Jan-Thomas Fischer  [ Austrian Research Centre for Forests (BFW), Austria ]
    • Marc Adams  [ Austrian Research Centre for Forests (BFW), Austria ]
    • Anselm Köhler  [ Austrian Research Centre for Forests (BFW), Austria ]
    • Shoichi Mori  [ Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Japan ]
    • Kazuyuki Fujita  [ Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Japan ]
    • Akio Shinya  [ Niseko Avalanche Institute, Japan ]

    Date: 2026-09-28

    Abstract: Small-avalanche experiments were conducted in the Niseko-Annupuri mountain range in Japan from 2016 to 2019 and in 2025 to obtain small avalanche dynamics data. In the experiments small avalanches were triggered using blasting or a snow groomer by pushing and collapsing piled-up snow. The avalanches ranged in runout distance approximately from 30 to 200 meters. Avalanche velocity was estimated from aerial drone footage; additionally, Doppler radar provided reliable data even for the small-scale event. Internal velocity was also obtained by releasing sensors containing IMU and GNSS units within the avalanche flow. The flow behavior of the avalanches was observed using the infrared camera and by surveying debris; however, no significant variations were observed due to the short runout distance. We also carried out seismic and infrasound monitoring, however, no significant variations in the infrasound waveforms were detected.

    Object ID: ISSW2026_P1.40.pdf

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.15788/1790098800

    Language of Article: English

    Presenter(s): Yoichi Ito

    Keywords: small avalanche, avalanche experiment, sensor

    Page Number(s): 1439 - 1445

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