Item: COMPARING STABILITY TESTS AND UNDERSTANDING THEIR LIMITATIONS
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Title: COMPARING STABILITY TESTS AND UNDERSTANDING THEIR LIMITATIONS
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings 2023, Bend, Oregon
Authors:
- Karl W. Birkeland [ USDA Forest Service National Avalanche Center, Bozeman, Montana, USA ] [ Friends of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, Evergreen, Colorado, USA ] [ Birkeland Snow and Avalanche Scientific, Bozeman, Montana USA ]
- Alec van Herwijnen [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
- Frank Techel [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
- Edward H. Bair [ University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA ] [ Leidos, Inc., Reston, Virginia, USA ]
- Benjamin Reuter [ Météo-France, Direction des Opérations pour la Prévision, Toulouse, France ] [ Centre d'Etudes de la Neige, Grenoble, France ]
- Ron Simenhois [ Colorado Avalanche Information Center, Leadville, Colorado, USA ]
- Bruce Jamieson [ Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada ]
- Alex Marienthal [ Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, Bozeman, MT USA ]
- Doug Chabot [ Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, Bozeman, MT USA ]
- Jürg Schweizer [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
Date: 2023-10-08
Abstract: Our paper focuses on four popular snowpack tests, the Rutschblock Test (RB), Compression Test (CT), Extended Column Test (ECT), and Propagation Saw Test (PST), reviewing past and current stability test research in the context of recent advances in our understanding of dry slab avalanche release. We found that: 1) Not all tests provide the same information with regards to the critical stages of avalanche release, namely snowpack layering, failure initiation, and crack propagation, 2) Stability test research is challenging, leading to some discrepancies between studies, 3) Each stability test has its own advantages, as well as its own limitations 4) Test accuracy should not be the only selection criteria, but instead users need to pick the appropriate test to answer the questions they have about their snowpack especially with regards to failure initiation and crack propagation. Finally, conducting stability tests is valuable beyond the actual test results. Tests provide an opportunity for slowing down our thinking, focusing on the snowpack, and increasing group communication, all of which are important for minimizing common decision-making biases.
Object ID: ISSW2023_O2.05.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Karl Birkeland
Keywords: dry slab avalanche, snow stability test, snow stability, avalanche forecasting
Page Number(s): 64 - 71
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