Avalanche studies and model validation in Europe, SATSIE. Management progress report

This report is Revision l of the Management Report, delivered to the Commission April 30. 2003. The revision is updated concerning Milestones, Deliverables, Gantt diagram and allocation ofmanpower and other costs to the different work packages. This information is therefore valid for two periods: 1st October 2002 - 30 March 2003, and 1st April 2003 - 30 September 2003.European Commissio

Framdriftsrapport. SIP Snøskredforskning. Rapporteringsperiode 1.8.1999 - 31.8.2000.

Norges Forskningsråd (NFR

TIGRA. The integrated geological risk assessment. Hazard zoning methods of snow avalanches, debris flow and rock falls. Final report

The present report describes natural hazard zoning methods for snow avalanches in Norway and in some other countries were avalanches are a serious threat to the society. In addition methods for rock-fall and debris slide zoning in Norway are discussed. The main problem in hazard zoning of avalanches and other kind of natural hazards in steep terrain, is the prediction of the runout distance for a given frequency. To day much effort is put into modelling of avalanche dynamics as the physical processes in avalanches and slides are not fully understood. More research and developmentis needed to make the models more precise, and to verify the different models towards Nature. Different kinds of runout models are described in the present report, both empirical/statistical - and dynamical methods. Hazard mapping legalisation, and mapping procedures are described. The countries included in this overview have all developed national regulations concerning avalanche risk levels. The accepted risk levels differs for all of the countries, as the return periods of the design avalanches ranges from about 150 to 5000 years. Hazard zoning in Norway is examplified by a description of a case study in a hazard prone village. The use of a Norwegian GIS system for this purposeis described.EU kommisjone

Snow avalanche research programme SIP-6. Ryggfonn. Full scale avalanche test site and the effect of the catching dam

The effect of the 16 m high retaining dam in Ryggfonn has been analysed by using data from 12 dry snow avalanches. Except for one avalanche, which was stopped by the dam, all of these avalanches overtopped it and ran beyond the dam. Avalanche speeds were inferred from the arrival times at sensors 320 m and 230 m upstream of the dam. Based on these observations, the avalanche speed at the site of the dam and the run-out were simulated with the NIS model and compared to the observed run-out. The run-out of the observed avalanches is closely correlated to the avalanche velocity. The volume of the avalanches has a weaker correlation with the run-out.NGI /SIP-

Snow avalanche experience through 25 years at NGI.

This year it is 25 years since the Norwegian parliament decided that NG! should be the institution responsible for snow avalanche research and consulting work in Norway. Because of several major snow avalanche accidents in the late sixties and early seventies when many persons were killed and constructions damaged, an official comity appointed by the Department of Industry, came to the conclusion that NG! was the best fitted institution to handle snow avalanche problems in our country

Snow Avalanches

In: Casale, R., Margottini, C. (eds) Natural Disasters and Sustainable Development. Environmental Science. Springer, Berlin, HeidelbergSnow avalanches represent a threat to societies in many countries of the world. In America, Asia, Australia, and Europe, several mountainous countries are affected by this type of natural hazard. People, housing areas, communication lines, ski areas, animals, and woodland are subjected to the threat of snow avalanches

Framdriftsrapport Snøskredforskning. Rapporteringsperiode 1.8.2000 - 31.8.2001

Norges Forskningsråd (NFR

Framdriftsrapport. Snøskredforskning. Rapporteringsperiode 1.8.2001 - 31.9.2002

Norges Forskningsråd (NFR

On avalanche measurements at the Norwegian full-scale test-site Ryggfonn.

Avalanche measurements and observations, which were carried out at the Ryggfonn test-site, Norway, on 16 April 2005, are analyzed. The data include pulsed Doppler radar measurements, impact pressure readings from load cells mounted at two locations within the track and stress readings from load plates flush with the upstream slope of a catching dam. The radar measurements are used to deduce velocities and estimates on the retarding accelerations. The retarding accelerations show a wide discrepancy with commonly used model assumptions. Pressure measurements were correlated with velocity measurements. The measurements infer that commonly used drag factors are not sufficient to describe the forces exerted by slow moving wet snow. These measurements also depict transitions in the flow behavior. Measurements with load plates imply plastic failure rather than Coulomb-type friction. Field observations of the avalanche track suggest that erosion/abrasion due to (saltating) particles is one possible entrainment mechanism

Calculation of snow avalanche runout distance.

Evaluation of the maximum runout distance of snow avalanches is one of the most important problems in avalanche zoning. It is also one of the most difficult and controversial subjects in avalanche research. This is especially true in avalanche-prone districts where there may be a need for housing, so that calculation of maximum runout distance has many implications concerning possible future accidents and damage. Models that will predict avalanche runout distance are therefore much in need. Such models should be based on a small number of parameters. These parameters should be as objective as possible, and not be based on subjective judgment from the various avalanche experts handling the problem. The purpose of this paper is to study extreme avalanche runout distance based on (1) topographic parameters from about 200 avalanches, (2) calculation of runout distance from the same collection of avalanches based on a numerical /dynamical model, and (3) combination of the two models