International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings - Montana State University Library

Item: Automated Detection and Monitoring of Glide-Snow Events Using Satellite Based Optical Remote Sensing and Terrestrial Photography

• • Title: Automated Detection and Monitoring of Glide-Snow Events Using Satellite Based Optical Remote Sensing and Terrestrial Photography

    Proceedings: Proceedings, 2012 International Snow Science Workshop, Anchorage, Alaska

    Authors:

    • Sebastian Feick  [ Institute of Geography, Universi ty of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany ]
    • Christoph Mitterer  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
    • Lisa Dreier  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
    • Stephan Harvey  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
    • Jürg Schweizer  [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]

    Date: 2012

    Abstract: On steep slopes the full snowpack can glide on the ground, tension cracks may open and eventually the slope fails as full-depth avalanche (glide-snow avalanche). Many observations have shown that a thin wet layer reduces friction between the snow-soil interface leading to snow gliding. The occurrence, however, of glide cracks and their evolution to glide avalanches are still poorly understood. Permanent monitoring of glide cracks seems most promising for predicting snow gliding and full-depth avalanches. We evaluated whether glide cracks can be automatically detected and mapped for a large area using optical satellite images with very high spatial resolution. Two approaches were tested for a 25 km2 scene from panchromatic satellite sensor WorldView-1 acquired over a test site in the Eastern Swiss Alps. Both approaches integrate image information and topographic variables derived from a digital elevation model. The first approach is based on statistical modeling techniques; the second one included an object-based image analysis. Both approaches achieved encouraging detection and mapping accuracies even though certain limitations exist. Furthermore, images from temporal high resolution time-lapse photography of two slopes that are known for gliding-snow events were used to monitor glide-crack evolution and glide-avalanche occurrence.

    Object ID: issw-2012-603-609.pdf

    Language of Article: English

    Presenter(s): unknown

    Keywords: glide avalanches, soil-snow interface, time lapse camera

    Page Number(s): 603-609

    Subjects: glide avalanches avalanche forecasting time lapse photography

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