Item: Slope-Scale Snowpack Stability Derived from Multiple Snowmicropen Measurements and High-Resolution Terrestrial FMCW Radar Surveys
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Title: Slope-Scale Snowpack Stability Derived from Multiple Snowmicropen Measurements and High-Resolution Terrestrial FMCW Radar Surveys
Proceedings: 2010 International Snow Science Workshop
Authors:
- Hans-Peter Marshall [ Boise State University, Center for Geophysical Investigation of the Sh allow Subsurface, Boise, ID, USA ] [ Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, NH, USA ]
- Christine Pielmeier [ WSL Swiss Federal Institute for Sn ow and Avalanche Research SLF, CH-7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
- Scott Havens [ Boise State University, Center for Geophysical Investigation of the Sh allow Subsurface, Boise, ID, USA ]
- Frank Techel [ WSL Swiss Federal Institute for Sn ow and Avalanche Research SLF, CH-7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland ]
Date: 2010
Abstract: Slope-scale stability assessments from SnowMicroPen (SMP) profiles and from remote sensing techniques would support avalanche forecasting operations, as they provide the ability to quantitatively estimate snow properties much faster than traditional methods. Stability information can be gathered more objectively and representatively with these new techniques than with standard stability tests, however signal interpretation remains challenging. Previous SMP studies have related SMPderived snow properties at failure planes to observed point-scale (compression test) stability and rutschblock-scale stability. The goals of this study are to relate SMP derived properties to rutschblock test results (93 sites) as well as to extended column test (ECT) results and to include information about all layers in the SMP-stability classification scheme. Measurements at 61 different sites are used for the comparison with ECT results. 15 sites from the Swiss Alps and 10 from the Colorado San Juan Mountains, USA with up to 35 nested SMP measurements are used in the slope-scale analysis. A FMCW radar survey, taken coincident with a slope-scale SMP survey, shows the potential for obtaining additional information about the slope-scale variability of layer thicknesses. While radar profiles can not directly estimate strength, they can be used to quantify the variability of overburden stress and continuity of stratigraphy.
Language of Article: English
Presenters: Unknown
Keywords: snow cover, snow cover stability, snow stability evaluation, micro penetrometer, mechanical properties, avalanche forecasting, remote sensing, radar
Page Number(s): 102-109
Subjects: snowmicropen measurements snowpack fmcw radar surveys
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