Item: The Temporal Variations of Near-Surface Faceted Crystals, Red Mountain Pass Corridor, Colorado
-
-
Title: The Temporal Variations of Near-Surface Faceted Crystals, Red Mountain Pass Corridor, Colorado
Proceedings: Proceedings of the 1998 International Snow Science Workshop, Sunriver, Oregon
Authors:
- Joe Stock [ Department of Earth Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO ]
- Kelly Elder [ Department of Earth Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO ]
- Karl Birkeland [ Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, P.O. Box 130, Bozeman, MT 59771 ] [ Dept. of Earth Resources, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 ]
Date: 1998
Abstract: Avalanches are an important natural hazard. Slab avalanches initiate when a more cohesive layer lies over a less cohesive weak layer and the stresses on the slab exceed the weak layer's strength. Weak layers are commonly composed of surface hoar, graupel, or faceted crystals. One important type of faceted crystal forms in the nearsurface layers. During the 1997/98 winter a study of near-surface faceted crystals was conducted along the Red Mountain Pass corridor between Silverton and Ouray, Colorado. This study examines temporal variations in selected nearsurface faceted layers at three study plots at Red Mountain Pass. The north-facing site retained lower strength faceted crystals throughout the study period while the other sites evolved into higher strength crystals. Stuffblock stability tests indicated an increase in stability on the northfacing site, yet the south-facing site lost strength toward the end of the study period.
Language of Article: English
Presenters: Unknown
Keywords: snow crystals, snow metamorphism, snow stability, avalanches
Page Number(s): 265-269
Subjects: near-surface faceted crystals snow metamorphism snow stability
-
Digital Abstract Not Available
-