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Item: The Full-Scale Avalanche Dynamics Test Site Vallée de la Sionne Betty

    • Title: The Full-Scale Avalanche Dynamics Test Site Vallée de la Sionne Betty

      Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Grenoble – Chamonix Mont-Blanc - October 07-11, 2013

      Authors:

      • Betty Sovilla  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
      • Jim McElwaine  [ University of Durham, England ]
      • Walter Steinkogler  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
      • Martin Hiller  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
      • François Dufour  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
      • Emma Suriñach  [ University of Barcelona, Spain ]
      • Cristina Perez Guillen  [ University of Barcelona, Spain ]
      • Jan-Thomas Fischer  [ Austrian Research Centre for Forests (BFW), Innsbruck, Austria ]
      • Emmanuel Thibert  [ IRSTEA, UR ETGR, France ]
      • Djebar Baroudi  [ Aalto University School of Science and Technology, Finland ]

      Date: 2013-10-07

      Abstract: The full-scale avalanche dynamics test site Vallée de la Sionne (VdlS) is providing scientists and engineers with essential data to understand and model avalanche motion. The site has been in operation since the winter 1997/98 and represents the cornerstone of snow avalanche dynamics research at the SLF. Numerous international teams including, University of Durham (England), IRSTEA (France), University of Barcelona (Spain), University College London (England), University of Sheffield (England), and BFW, Department of Natural Hazards (Austria) have their instrumentation at the site. The site is equipped with a unique collection of field-hardened sensors to measure avalanche velocity, impact pressure, flow depth and density. At VdlS pre- and post-event field campaigns with manual measurements are coupled with advanced remote sensing techniques to obtain a detailed picture of snow avalanche flow. Pulse Doppler and frequency modulated continuous wave radars measure velocity and track important flow features over the entire slope. Seismic and acoustic sensors monitor the avalanche activity and provide triggering for the acquisition system. Since the winter season 2012/13 data of five nearby automatic weather stations are used to perform snow cover simulations with the numerical model Alpine 3D. This allows reproducing snow cover parameters such as snow depth and temperature in almost real-time over the entire slope. We use the data to improve our understanding of the physics of avalanches and to investigate important practical questions such as the role of snow cover entrainment in determining run-out, and how avalanches and obstacles interact.

      Language of Article: English

      Presenters: Unknown

      Keywords: avalanche dynamics, vallée de la sionne, full-scale test site

      Page Number(s): 1350-1357

      Subjects: avalanche dynamics snow avalanche experimental test sites

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