Item: Hot-Spots and Hot-Times: Exploring Alternatives to Public Avalanche Forecasts in Canada's Data Sparse Northern Rockies Region
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Title: Hot-Spots and Hot-Times: Exploring Alternatives to Public Avalanche Forecasts in Canada's Data Sparse Northern Rockies Region
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2014 Proceedings, Banff, Canada
Authors:
- Ilya Storm [ Canadian Avalanche Center Public Avalanche Warning Service, Revelsoke, BC, Canada ]
- R.Grant Helgeson [ Canadian Avalanche Center Public Avalanche Warning Service, Revelsoke, BC, Canada ]
Date: 2014-09-29
Abstract: Over the past six winters the Canadian Avalanche Centre's North Rockies Region accounted for 10% of British Columbia avalanche fatalities. The North Rockies is a large region with a complex continental snowpack, and few avalanche safety operations generating professional quality field-data. Mountain snowmobilers constitute the primary user group, fueled largely by a booming energy resource industry. User engagement identified a significant desire for full-service avalanche forecast products. However, challenges with remoteness, driving distances, lack of snowpack and weather observations, and limited funding make delivery of avalanche forecasts in this region unrealistic. Additionally, we question the effectiveness of standard avalanche forecasts delivering regional summaries to this user group. We present an alternative vision for delivering useful avalanche information. The proposed strategy concentrates on geographic hot-spots to provide localized information, and hot-times to benefit the greatest number of people accessing avalanche terrain. Products under development include: web-based resources that combine general trip-planning tools (e.g. visibility, new snow amounts, road conditions, etc.) with succinct avalanche safety messaging embedded, using the CAC's Avaluator 2.0 decision-support tool to summarize forecast local conditions, and providing modelled snowpack structure information highlighting possible critical avalanche layers. Through delivery of targeted, locally relevant information in conjunction with outreach, education and weekly regional overviews, we hope to better engage backcountry users and improve public avalanche safety in this region. Solutions developed for the North Rockies are likely to prove valuable in other data-sparse regions facing similar challenges as may be found in South Rockies, Yukon, Newfoundland & Labrador, or Nunavut.
Language of Article: English
Presenters:
Keywords: forecasting, data sparse, remote, public safety
Page Number(s): 95-102
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Digital Abstract Not Available
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