Item: Applying the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale in the Swiss Jura Mountains
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Title: Applying the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale in the Swiss Jura Mountains
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2014 Proceedings, Banff, Canada
Authors:
- Christine Pielmeier [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
- Daniel Silbernagel [ topo.verlag, Basel, Switzerland ]
- Lukas Dürr [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
- Thomas Stucki [ WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland ]
Date: 2014-09-29
Abstract: The avalanche terrain exposure scale (ATES) was developed by Parks Canada in 2004 as a complementary tool to increase awareness and to communicate the risks encountered when travelling in avalanche terrain. In the meantime, many popular backcountry tours in Canada were rated. More recently, ATES has also been applied in some European countries. We review existing ATES applications as well as other alpine tour rating systems. An adaptation of ATES for a new application in the Swiss Jura, a popular area for snow shoeing and ski touring, is presented. The Jura hills are a low mountain range along the north-western border of Switzerland. There are about 60 popular tours in mostly gentle terrain, yet exposure to avalanche terrain also exists in some locations. We elaborate the requirements of a terrain classification in our particular low mountain range environment. As a result, the adapted technical model and public communication model as well as tour examples from the Swiss Jura are shown. A communication strategy is developed to increase the applicability and acceptance of the classification in Switzerland. A potential expansion to the Swiss Alps is discussed.
Object ID: ISSW14_paper_P3.04.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s):
Keywords: terrain, avalanche, exposure, terrain classification, education, Swiss Jura
Page Number(s): 927-933
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