Item: Towards a Basic Avalanche Characterization Based on the Generated Seismic Signal
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Title: Towards a Basic Avalanche Characterization Based on the Generated Seismic Signal
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Grenoble – Chamonix Mont-Blanc - October 07-11, 2013
Authors:
- Alec van Herwijnen [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
- Lisa Dreier [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
- Perry Bartelt [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
Date: 2013-10-07
Abstract: The primary reasons to study the seismic signal generated by avalanches are (1) to remotely detect snow avalanches and (2) to improve our understanding of avalanche dynamics. Geophones, coupled with other observation means, such as radar and videogrametric recordings, have provided increasingly detailed information on avalanche flow. For avalanche monitoring, on the other hand, one or perhaps several seismic sensors are placed in an avalanche track and are used to detect if and when an avalanche is released. While data of avalanche activity is of great interest, data on the size and type of the recorded avalanche events would represent very valuable additional information. In this study, we couple seismic monitoring with avalanche modeling to deduce avalanche characteristics from seismic signals. During the winter of 2012-2013, we monitored avalanche activity using time-lapse photography in combination with continuously recording seismic signals on a slope with well documented glide and wet snow avalanche activity above Davos, Switzerland. From 28 February to 13 March 2013, a relatively widespread wet snow avalanche cycle occurred and over 60 small to medium avalanches released on our study slope. The majority of these avalanches were recorded by our seismic sensor. Simple avalanche characteristics, including the size of the release area, the length of the path and the distance to the sensor, were derived from the time-lapse images. The data collected allowed us to simulate the observed avalanche events. We calculated the basal forces that generated the seismic signal. We then compared avalanche characteristics with the characteristics of the generated seismic signal, including signal length and amplitude and frequency distributions with time, with the aim of relating avalanche properties (volume, speed) with the measured signals.
Object ID: ISSW13_paper_P2-24.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Unknown
Keywords: seismic monitoring, avalanche activity, avalanche dynamics
Page Number(s): 1033-1037
Subjects: avalanche activity seismic detection of avalanches snow cover monitoring
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