International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings - Montana State University Library

Item: Toward Better Decision Tools for the Management of Frequent Avalanches

• • Title: Toward Better Decision Tools for the Management of Frequent Avalanches

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

    Authors:

    • Segor, V.  [ Struttura Assetto idrogeologico dei bacini montani – Ufficio Neve e Valanghe della Regione autonoma Valle d’Aosta, Quart (AO) – Italy ]
    • Pitet, L.  [ Struttura Assetto idrogeologico dei bacini montani – Ufficio Neve e Valanghe della Regione autonoma Valle d’Aosta, Quart (AO) – Italy ]
    • Bovet E.  [ Fondazione Montagna sicura, Courmayeur (AO), Italy ]
    • Dellavedova P.  [ Fondazione Montagna sicura, Courmayeur (AO), Italy ]
    • Sovilla B.  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
    • Steinkogler W.  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
    • Veitinger J.  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
    • Maggioni M.  [ DISAFA and NatRisk-LNSA, University of Turin, Grugliasco (TO), Italy ]
    • Chiambretti I.  [ AINEVA, Trento, Italy ]
    • Prola M.  [ ARPA Piedmont, Italy ]

    Date: 2013-10-07

    Abstract: Avalanche safety personnel often face with the problem of whether to close a road or a ski-resort exposed frequently to avalanches. Such decisions are often difficult, due to the lack of local and specific forecast on the possible evolution of weather and snowpack characteristics, as well as their influence on avalanche dynamics and forecasted runout distances. To fill this gap, the STRADA project was founded, providing strategies and tools for the management of natural risks. Avalanches were monitored at different full-scale test sites and the corresponding snowpack characteristics were indirectly determined using the numerical models SNOWPACK and Alpine3D. The combined analysis of these data has shown the importance of knowing the snowpack distribution and characteristics to define release areas and runout distance. This new knowledge, combined with the best practice and the best tools for avalanche simulation, such as the numerical model RAMMS, allow to improve risk mitigation strategies for routes and ski-resorts management. In synthesis, for the management on roads and ski resorts we propose three potential strategies: (1) monitoring and definition of basic criteria: it is important to know local snowpack conditions along the entire path, also including previous avalanche activity; (2) simulation of avalanche scenario: numerical avalanche models can be applied to assess different hazard scenarios with respect to different snowpack conditions as model input; (3) simulation of snow cover scenario: the snowpack in an entire basin is simulated using numerical models such as SNOWPACK and Alpine 3D, both in terms of forecast and real time scenarios.

    Language of Article: English

    Presenters: Unknown

    Keywords: strada, frequent avalanches, management, routes, ski-resorts, strategies

    Page Number(s): 230-234

    Subjects: decision making avalanche safety snowpack model

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