Item: A Relative Difference Approach to Detect Potential Weak Layers Within a Snow Profile
-
-
Title: A Relative Difference Approach to Detect Potential Weak Layers Within a Snow Profile
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Grenoble – Chamonix Mont-Blanc - October 07-11, 2013
Authors:
- Fabiano Monti [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
- Jürg Schweizer [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
Date: 2013-10-07
Abstract: Reducing the subjectivity of stability evaluation derived from snow profiles and increasing the spatial and temporal resolution of snow stratigraphy information are among the current possibilities to improve avalanche forecasting. In the last few years, several semi-quantitative methods (e.g. the threshold sum approach) have been developed to more objectively evaluate snow profiles. On the other hand, numerical modelling, for example, with the 1-D snow cover model SNOWPACK has the potential to supply snow cover stratigraphy information even in periods and from locations where manual observation are impossible. We propose a revised threshold sum approach (TSA) for snow profile interpretation. The considered snow cover properties are the same as with the TSA (i.e. grain size, type, hardness, depth, difference in grain size and hardness). Each variable was transformed in a dimensionless quantity and standardized within the single snow profile. Hence, relative differences and values were used to identify the location of layers which have a higher probability than others to be potential weak layers. This relative threshold sum approach (RTA) was preliminarily tested on a dataset of 107 manually recorded snow profiles, which were collected at skier-triggered avalanches. The characteristics of potential weak layers detected by RTA and TSA in simulated snow stratigraphy profiles were then compared with the characteristics of the failure layers found with compression tests in 83 manual profiles. Overall, the RTA was capable of detecting potential weak layers in manual as well as simulated snow profiles. Combined with the skier stability index it provides an estimate of stability.
Language of Article: English
Presenters: Unknown
Keywords: snow stratigraphy, snow profile, snow stability evaluation
Page Number(s): 339-343
Subjects: snow profile snow stability weak layers
-
Digital Abstract Not Available
-