Item: How Snow Fails
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Title: How Snow Fails
Proceedings: 2010 International Snow Science Workshop
Authors:
- Ingrid Reiweger [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
- Jürg Schweizer [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
Date: 2010
Abstract: Dry-snow slab avalanches start with a failure in a weak layer below a cohesive slab. Avalanche release models start with an initial crack which may propagate and, depending on the slope angle and the roughness of the fracture surface, lead to a whumpf or an avalanche. In order to investigate how the initial failure forms, we performed loading experiments with a weak surface hoar layer. We found that surface hoar strength decreased with loading rate and slope angle. Possible consequences for slab release are discussed.
Object ID: ISSW_O-039.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Unknown
Keywords: dry-snow slab, cohesive slab, surface hoar
Page Number(s): 204-206
Subjects: dry-snow slab surface hoar
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