Item: Temperature Based Forecasting of a Springtime Arctic Snowpack
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Title: Temperature Based Forecasting of a Springtime Arctic Snowpack
Proceedings: Proceedings of the 1980 International Snow Science Workshop, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Authors:
- David Hamre [ AL-CAN Snow Management Services, Girdwood, Alaska ]
- Chris J. Stethem [ Avalanche Consultant, Whistler, B.C. ]
Date: 1980
Abstract: Until recently, avalanches involving arctic snowpacks have received little attention in publications. Man has had very little contact with the arctic snowpack until recent years with the advent of arctic exploration for oil and the subsequent development of oil-related facilities. This has considerably increased the incidence of avalanche encounters in arctic mountain ranges. This paper describes an avalanche forecasting and control project conducted to allow oil pipeline maintenance crews to work on the Alaska pipeline during the spring melt/freeze cycle. The location of this project was the remote Brooks Range of northern Alaska, an area that develops unique avalanche characteristics because of extreme meteorological conditions. Because no previous work had been done under these conditions, new and innovative procedures had to be devised for forecasting and control.
Object ID: issw-1980-082-089.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Unknown
Keywords: forecasting, oil pipeline, artic snowpack
Page Number(s): 82-89
Subjects: avalanche forecasting snowpack avalanche control
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