Item: Safety Concept for Hazards Caused by Ice Avalanches from the Whymper Hanging Glacier in the Mont Blanc Massif
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Title: Safety Concept for Hazards Caused by Ice Avalanches from the Whymper Hanging Glacier in the Mont Blanc Massif
Proceedings: 2010 International Snow Science Workshop
Authors:
- Stefan Margreth [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos Dorf, Swi tzerland ]
- Martin Funk [ Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology VAW, ETH Zurich, Switzerland ]
- Marco Vagliasindi [ Fondation Montagne Sûre, Courmayeur, Italy ]
- Massimo Broccolato [ Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta, Quart, Italy ]
Date: 2010
Abstract: The Whymper glacier is a hanging glacier located on the south face of the Grandes Jorasses (Mont Blanc Massif, Italy). Combined snow and ice avalanches triggered by ice masses breaking off from the hanging glacier endanger the village of Planpincieux and its surroundings in the Val Ferret. In 1997 the SLF and the VAW developed a first safety concept for different scenarios based on the monitoring of the glacier and an assessment of the local avalanche hazard. At the end of June 1998 almost the entire Whymper glacier (around 150’000 m3) sheared off and the ice avalanche stopped only 500 m above the valley road. Until 2009 the Whymper glacier grew again and now has a similar surface topography as in 1998. The SLF and VAW improved the 1997 safety concept by considering several scenarios of falling ice volumes. The different ice avalanche scenarios were simulated using the 2-dimensional calculation model RAMMS. The necessary safety measures are defined in relation to the local avalanche danger level and the potential volume of an icefall. The improved safety concept was in operation in winter 2009/10. However, no dangerous icefall has occurred yet.
Object ID: ISSW_O-055.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Unknown
Keywords: ice avalanche, safety concept, hazard map
Page Number(s): 281-288
Subjects: safety hazards ice avalanches
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