Item: TRENDS IN HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL AVALANCHE INDICATORS IN NORWAY AND SVALBARD IN 1961-2020
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Title: TRENDS IN HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL AVALANCHE INDICATORS IN NORWAY AND SVALBARD IN 1961-2020
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2024, Tromsø, Norway
Authors:
- Tuomo Saloranta [ Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) ]
- Karsten Müller [ Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) ]
- Siiri Wickström [ Skred AS ] [ Arctic Safety Centre, The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) ]
Date: 2024-09-23
Abstract: Hydrometeorological factors, such as snow depth, length of the snow season, wind speed and direction, air temperature, as well as the amount and intensity of rain and snowfall are closely connected to avalanche activity. As the ongoing climate change affects these factors in several ways, our research question is: “How has avalanche activity in Norway and Svalbard changed during the last 50-100 years along with a changing climate?” While there are long time series of for example air temperature, precipitation and snow depth observations, no long time series of observed avalanche activity are available for Norway. In order to analyze changes in historical avalanche activity, we therefore derive four different avalanche activity “proxy” indicators, calculated on the basis of different hydro-meteorological variables (daily values at 1x1 km resolution). We analyze changes and historical trends in our avalanche indicators in Norway and Svalbard over the 60-year period from 1961 to 2020. Moreover, we evaluate the performance of our indicators against time series of daily avalanche problems and danger levels issued by the Norwegian avalanche warning service (NAWS).
Object ID: ISSW2024_P5.2.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Tuomo Saloranta
Keywords: avalanches, climate change, modelling
Page Number(s): 643 - 647
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