International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings - Montana State University Library

Item: The northeastern continental snow climate: A new snow climate classification for the Gaspé Peninsula, Québec, Canada

• • Title: The northeastern continental snow climate: A new snow climate classification for the Gaspé Peninsula, Québec, Canada

    Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings 2018, Innsbruck, Austria

    Authors:

    • Francis Meloche  [ Département de Biologie, Chimie et Géographie, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Canada ]  [ Center for Nordic studies, Université Laval, Québec, Canada ]
    • Francis Gauthier  [ Département de Biologie, Chimie et Géographie, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Canada ]  [ Center for Nordic studies, Université Laval, Québec, Canada ]
    • Alexandre Langlois  [ Département de Géomatique appliquée, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada ]  [ Center for Nordic studies, Université Laval, Québec, Canada ]
    • Dominic Boucher  [ Avalanche Québec, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Canada ]

    Date: 2018-10-07

    Abstract: Snow climate classification has been a subject in avalanche research for the past decades. A good comprehension of the snow climate and snow avalanche regime of a specific region is the foundation of reliable avalanche forecasting. Recent studies have added snow climate classification to understand new regions that don’t fit the snow climate classification in western North America. The Gaspe Peninsula, located in eastern Canada, is threatened by snow avalanches. The need to determine a snow climate classification in order to fully understand his connection to the snow avalanche regime is important to make reliable avalanche forecasting. This study focus on two study areas: the north coast of the Gaspe Peninsula and the Chic-Chocs range. The meteorological suggest a continental snow climate and maritime snow climate classification. The snowpack data reveal a cold and thin snowpack with facets and melt-freeze crusts. The presence of persistent instabilities varies between winter season. We suggest a new nomenclature for these types of snow climate as northeastern rainy continental snow climate.

    Object ID: ISSW2018_P10.37.pdf

    Language of Article: English

    Presenter(s):

    Keywords: Snow climate, Snowpack, avalanche hazard, Gaspé Peninsula, Avalanche Problem

    Page Number(s): 1025-1029

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