Item: Avalanche Problems; An Important Part of the Norwegian Forecast, and a Useful Tool for the Users
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Title: Avalanche Problems; An Important Part of the Norwegian Forecast, and a Useful Tool for the Users
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Grenoble – Chamonix Mont-Blanc - October 07-11, 2013
Authors:
- Markus Landrø [ Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, Middelthunsgate 29, 0301 Oslo, Norway ]
- Solveig Kosberg [ Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, Middelthunsgate 29, 0301 Oslo, Norway ]
- Karsten Müller [ Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, Middelthunsgate 29, 0301 Oslo, Norway ]
Date: 2013-10-07
Abstract: The Norwegian Avalanche Warning Service uses avalanche problems in their bulletins to provide a compact, yet exact, description for the end user of the current conditions. The Norwegian avalanche problems consist of the following elements: The type of expected avalanche, the cause of the avalanche, the likelihood, expected size, amount of extra load that is necessary for triggering and finally where in the snowpack we expect the avalanche to be released. Observers submitting observations and forecasters have the opportunity to make different combinations of all the available elements. Forecasters can choose up to three avalanche problems when composing the bulletin. A standard sentence and set of icons is automatically generated depending on the chosen elements. Given the large forecasting regions, few weather stations and field observations, our avalanche problems are an attempt to make the avalanche bulletin more useful to the end user. Feedback on the use of avalanche problems show that they provide a useful and good starting point for pre- trip planning and that they are also useful for evaluation during the trip. Avalanche problems have also been useful for educational purposes, both at the website varsom.no and for people teaching avalanche courses.
Object ID: ISSW13_paper_O4-14.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Unknown
Keywords: avalanche problems, avalanche patterns, avalanche forecasting, avalanche bulletin, norway
Page Number(s): 215-218
Subjects: avalanche forecasting avalanche patterns avalanche warning
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