Avalanches

GEOMORPHOLOGICAL HAZARD
CONTENTS:
• What is Avalanche
• Characteristics
• How is it formed
• Avalanches as an Hazard
• Managing snow avalanche hazard
• Case studies
What is Avalanche?
What is Avalanche?
An Avalanche is a rapid
movement of snow down a
slope
as a result of structural
weakness in the snow cover on
the slope.
produces boundaries which act as weaknesses within the snow pack.
 Types of Avalanches:

A B C
 Types of Avalanches:

Powder Snow Avalanches Wet Snow Avalanches Slab Snow Avalanches

 Types of avalanches:
Slab Avalanches Powder snow Avalanches Wet Snow

What?

Features?

Occurrence:
 Types of avalanches:
Slab Avalanches
What? Form frequently in snow that has been
deposited, or redeposited by wind.
Features? A block/slab of snow cut out from its
surroundings by fractures.
Occurrence: Snow builds up in layers following snowfall
events. As snow layers thicken, the density
in lower layers increases.
In some packs the snow become less dense
in places where ice and snow crystal grow,
and voids between enlarged to form weak
layer in snow. Melting and thawing
between snow falls produces weakness for
slab of snow to slide down slow.
Powder snow Avalanches
A powder cloud, overlies a
dense avalanche.
Occur with fresh dry powder.
-Occur with little warning
-At any time in season
-Speeds up to 300km/hr
-Force up to 50 tonnes per m2
Wet Snow
Low velocity of suspension of snow and water,
flow confined to the track surface.
Low speed –friction between sliding surface of the
track & water saturated flow.
But despite low speed travel (10-40km/hr) it is
capable generating powerful destructive force,
due large mass and density. It flow can plough
through soft snow, and scour trees, vegetation etc
and leaving exposed & scored ground in
avalanche track.
Initiated from loose snow or slab releases, occur in
snow packs that are saturated.
Since the snow pack is large after winter falls, & temperature changes
are more frequent.
 (24 -40 degree slopes, rarely above 60
degree –rarely snow to collect)

Movement occur < shear resistance