Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 39 views

    Avalanches

    Uploaded by

    rehmania78644
    This document discusses avalanches and the factors that contribute to their formation. It describes avalanches as falling masses of snow and/or ice that can be dangerous natural hazards. There are different types of avalanches including loose snow avalanches and slab avalanches. The formation of avalanches is influenced by terrain factors like slope angle and shape, vegetation, weather factors like precipitation and wind, snowpack characteristics like the presence of a weak layer, and human triggers. A slab avalanche occurs when a cohesive slab of snow fractures above a weaker snow layer.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Avalanches

    Uploaded by

    rehmania78644
    39 views19 pages
    This document discusses avalanches and the factors that contribute to their formation. It describes avalanches as falling masses of snow and/or ice that can be dangerous natural hazards. There are different types of avalanches including loose snow avalanches and slab avalanches. The formation of avalanches is influenced by terrain factors like slope angle and shape, vegetation, weather factors like precipitation and wind, snowpack characteristics like the presence of a weak layer, and human triggers. A slab avalanche occurs when a cohesive slab of snow fractures above a weaker snow layer.

    Original Description:

    avalanches

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    This document discusses avalanches and the factors that contribute to their formation. It describes avalanches as falling masses of snow and/or ice that can be dangerous natural hazards. There are different types of avalanches including loose snow avalanches and slab avalanches. The formation of avalanches is influenced by terrain factors like slope angle and shape, vegetation, weather factors like precipitation and wind, snowpack characteristics like the presence of a weak layer, and human triggers. A slab avalanche occurs when a cohesive slab of snow fractures above a weaker snow layer.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    39 views19 pages

    Avalanches

    Uploaded by

    rehmania78644
    This document discusses avalanches and the factors that contribute to their formation. It describes avalanches as falling masses of snow and/or ice that can be dangerous natural hazards. There are different types of avalanches including loose snow avalanches and slab avalanches. The formation of avalanches is influenced by terrain factors like slope angle and shape, vegetation, weather factors like precipitation and wind, snowpack characteristics like the presence of a weak layer, and human triggers. A slab avalanche occurs when a cohesive slab of snow fractures above a weaker snow layer.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    of 19

    Snow

    Avalanches

    what is an avalanche?
    a falling mass of snow and/or ice
    a mass-wasting process
    analogous to debris flows or mudslides

    a natural hazard

    types of avalanches
    loose snow (point release)
    slab
    soft slab
    hard slab

    can be wet or dry snow

    Loose-snow avalanches (sluffs)


    usually small and relatively harmless
    occur most frequently in newly fallen snow
    on steep slopes
    have little internal cohesion
    light fluffy snow + gentle winds
    Point release

    Slab avalanches
    originate in all types of snow
    snow breaks away with enough internal
    cohesion to act as a single unit
    destructive

    Avalanche formation factors


    terrain
    weather
    snowpack
    humans

    terrain
    Is the terrain capable of
    producing an avalanche?

    Factors to consider:

    slope angle
    slope size and consequences
    slope shape
    vegetation and trees
    runout
    aspect with respect to wind
    elevation

    terrain

    slope angle
    60

    NOTE:
    referring to the
    steepest part of
    the slope

    45
    30
    25

    slope shape
    convexities and concavities
    zone of
    tension

    o
    n
    s

    b
    a
    l
    s

    zone of
    compression

    i
    v
    a
    r
    G

    si

    l
    f
    n

    e
    c
    n
    ue

    vegetation and trees


    trees can anchor snow
    but: depends on amount
    of trees
    ground cover affects:
    effective snow depth
    heat transfer ~
    snow metamorphism in
    basal layers

    vegetation change
    implications of
    climate change
    timber cutting
    creation of starting zones

    forest fires
    removes ground cover, thins trees

    large avalanche events

    weather
    Is the weather affecting the snow stability?
    Precipitation (snow or rain)
    Wind
    Temperature

    precipitation
    addition of mass to the snowpack
    rate of addition is important
    st

    stress vs. strength

    th
    g
    ren

    ss
    e
    r
    st

    gravity

    compression

    wind

    snow redistribution
    change in snow density
    cornices

    temperature
    changes in temperature can affect snow
    stability
    change during storms
    rapid warming
    metamorphism
    effects

    snowpack
    Can the snowpack avalanche?
    snow stability evaluation
    weak layer
    slab

    human factor
    in the vast majority of avalanche
    accidents, the avalanche was caused
    by the victim or a member of the
    victims party

    slab avalanche ingredients


    trigger

    slope

    slab

    weak layer

    You might also like

    pFad - Phonifier reborn

    Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

    Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


    Alternative Proxies:

    Alternative Proxy

    pFad Proxy

    pFad v3 Proxy

    pFad v4 Proxy