International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings - Montana State University Library

Item: Wet Snow Avalanche Activity in the Swiss Alps – Trend Analysis for Mid-Winter Season

• • Title: Wet Snow Avalanche Activity in the Swiss Alps – Trend Analysis for Mid-Winter Season

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

    Authors:

    • Christine Pielmeier  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
    • Frank Techel  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
    • Christoph Marty  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
    • Thomas Stucki  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]

    Date: 2013-10-07

    Abstract: During the winter 2011-2012 the Alps experienced repeated periods with high activity of wet snow and full-depth glide avalanches during mid-winter season (December to February). Damage to infrastructure but also fatalities were the consequence. Looking back 5 years, there was at least one intense and widespread wet snow and full-depth glide avalanche period in four out of five midwinter seasons. To study the long-term trend, changes in wet snow and full-depth glide avalanche activity during mid-winter season were analyzed from 1952 to 2013, based on long-term observation stations. Robust time series analyses showed a positive trend in number and proportion of wet snow and full-depth glide avalanche records. The trend coincides with the trend in increasing air temperature in Switzerland. A break in the data series is shown that originates probably from a major revision of the snow and avalanche recording system in 2002. For the 50 year period before the revision, the proportion of wet snow avalanches increased by 0.4% per year. With the anticipated increasing temperatures in the European Alps, the positive trend in wet snow avalanche activity will most likely continue, which requires adaptations in risk management.

    Language of Article: English

    Presenters: Unknown

    Keywords: wet snow avalanche, full-depth glide avalanche, snowfall limit, avalanche forecasting, climate change

    Page Number(s): 1240-1246

    Subjects: wet avalanche avalanche forecasting avalanche activity

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