Item: THE AVALANCHE TEST SITE IN LECH AM ARLBERG, AUSTRIA: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
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Title: THE AVALANCHE TEST SITE IN LECH AM ARLBERG, AUSTRIA: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
Proceedings: Proceedings, International Snow Science Workshop, Whistler, BC, Canada, 2026
Authors:
- Alexander Prokop [ University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ] [ Snow Scan GmbH, Vienna, Austria ]
- Nicola Agostinetti [ University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ]
- Stefan Muckenhuber [ FH-Joanneum, Kapfenberg, Austria ]
- Stefan Graf [ Snow Scan GmbH, Vienna, Austria ]
- Thomas Gölles [ University of Graz, Graz, Austria ]
- Richard Koschuch [ IBPT-Koschuch e.U., Leutschach an der Weinstrasse, Austria ]
- Stefan Wallner [ FH-Joanneum, Kapfenberg, Austria ]
- Birgit Schlager [ Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH, Graz, Austria ]
- Benedikt Anwander [ University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ]
- Florian Singer [ Snow Scan GmbH, Vienna, Austria ]
- Bernhard Grasemann [ University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ]
Date: 2026-09-28
Abstract: For more than 20 years a unique avalanche test site in the ski resort of Lech am Arlberg, Austria at the slopes of Mohnenfluh Mountain is used for snow and avalanche research. Located close to Warth-Schröcken, which is considered the snowiest ski resort in the Alps that records an impressive average annual snowfall of approximately 10,7 m of fresh snow and its south-east exposure loaded by predominant north-westerly winds in 2200 altitude meters serve as perfect conditions for scientific analyses of different processes regarding snow properties and snow processes as well as avalanche release and avalanche dynamics. 6 avalanche-blasting towers allow for controlled remote triggering of avalanches in multiple paths, with typical avalanche release width ranging from 10 to 80 m and avalanche lengths ranging from 50 to 350 m. In an average winter about 50 to 100 avalanche events can be analyzed. In the past, pioneering work was conducted at the test site such as the first terrestrial laser scanning measurements of snow surfaces scientifically analyzed for snow and avalanche research or the first detections of avalanche events using distributed acoustic and seismic fiber optic sensing. Moreover sophisticated snowdrift models were validated at the test site and the functionality of avalanche protection measures was tested and improved. At the moment the scientific measurements focus on an accurate knowledge of 3-dimensional conditions of snow pack properties and avalanche events in high temporal resolution. Next to common automatic weather and snow sensors, 4 automatic LiDARs survey spatial snow depth at any time in parts of the test site and in combination with manual conducted LiDAR measurements full spatial snow depth at the test site is collected. Additionally acoustic and seismic distributed fiber optic sensing deliver high resolution (1 – 5 m) data of snow pack properties and avalanche events. Two avalanche radars detect automatically avalanches and deliver avalanche speed measurements. To summarize data about size, speed and intensity in terms of seismic signals of avalanche events is collected in high accuracy and temporal resolution and satellite remote sensing data is validated. We present and discuss the current measurement set-up and the data quality delivered and we invite researches interested in such data to join us at our research site!
Object ID: ISSW2026_P3.50.pdf
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15788/1790099208
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Alexander Prokop
Keywords: avalanche, snow properties, test site, Alps.
Page Number(s): 2123 - 2130
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