Measurements of localized dynamic loading in a mountain snow cover

Thumlert, Scott; Exner, Thomas E.; Jamieson, Bruce; Bellaire, Sascha

doi:10.1016/j.coldregions.2012.08.005

Cited by 9 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…There is an increase of less than an order of magnitude due to snowmobile movement. Thumlert et al (2013), measured stresses of about 10 to 20 kPa at a depth of 30 cm below the surface of a deep snowpack. At 20 cm below the snow surface, the induced stress from a snowmobile is already much less than 10 cm below the surface (Thumlert et al, 2013).…”

Section: Observed Changes To Snowpack Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thumlert et al (2013), measured stresses of about 10 to 20 kPa at a depth of 30 cm below the surface of a deep snowpack. At 20 cm below the snow surface, the induced stress from a snowmobile is already much less than 10 cm below the surface (Thumlert et al, 2013). Grooming vehicles add a force similar to snowmobiles (Pytka, 2010) based on mass and track size.…”

Section: Observed Changes To Snowpack Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There have been limited studies regarding the influence of snowmobile use on snowpack properties (Keddy et al, 1979;Thumlert et al, 2013;Thumlert and Jamieson, 2015). Studies have, however, examined how the snowpack changes due to snow grooming at ski resorts (Fahey et al, 1999;Keller et al, 2004;Spandre et al, 2016a), or to traction and mobility of wheeled vehicles across a snowpack (Abele and Gow, 1975;Shoop et al, 2006;Pytka, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The authors found a doubling of fresh snow density and a compression of the natural vegetation below the snow (Keddy et al, 1979). Examining deeper snow cover (> 20 cm deep), Thumlert et al (2013) and Thumlert and Jamieson (2015) examined the distribution of stresses through the snowpack due to type of loading, depth and snowpack stratigraphy (Thumlert et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The United States National Forest System records about 6 million snowmobile visits annually, accessing about 327 000 km 2 of land (US Forest Service, 2010, 2013a. With continued increases in the number of people participating in winter recreation (Cook and Borrie, 1995;Winter Wildlands Alliance, 2006;US Forest Service, 2010, 2013aNagler et al, 2012;Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition, 2016;Osterberg, 2016), activities including increased snowmobile use may influence snowpack properties in these seasonally snowcovered environments. Of additional concern, is that climate change will result in reduced land available for snowmobiling (Tercek and Rodman, 2016), likely increasing the impact of snowmobile traffic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Snowmobile impacts on snowpack physical and mechanical properties

et al. 2018

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Abstract. Snowmobile use is a popular form of winter recreation in Colorado, particularly on public lands. To examine the effects of differing levels of use on snowpack properties, experiments were performed at two different areas, Rabbit Ears Pass near Steamboat Springs and at Fraser Experimental Forest near Fraser, Colorado USA. Differences between no use and varying degrees of snowmobile use (low, medium and high) on shallow (the operational standard of 30 cm) and deeper snowpacks (120 cm) were quantified and statistically assessed using measurements of snow density, temperature, stratigraphy, hardness, and ram resistance from snow pit profiles. A simple model was explored that estimated snow density changes from snowmobile use based on experimental results. Snowpack property changes were more pronounced for thinner snow accumulations. When snowmobile use started in deeper snow conditions, there was less difference in density, hardness, and ram resistance compared to the control case of no snowmobile use. These results have implications for the management of snowmobile use in times and places of shallower snow conditions where underlying natural resources could be affected by denser and harder snowpacks.

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Section: Observed Changes To Snowpack Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Observed Changes To Snowpack Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Snowmobile impacts on snowpack physical and mechanical properties

et al. 2018

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Stress measurements in the snow cover below localized dynamic loads

Thumlert

Jamieson

2014

Cold Regions Science and Technology

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Stress measurements from common snow slope stability tests

Thumlert

Jamieson

2015

Cold Regions Science and Technology

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In the majority of fatal snow avalanches, skiers and snowmobilers trigger the avalanche by applying load to the snow cover. The snow cover is often tested to learn information about its stability on surrounding slopes. This testing is normally performed by digging down into the snow cover, isolating a column of snow, dynamically loading the top of the column and observing fractures that occur in the column due to the loading. Understanding how stress from dynamic surface loads and from loading in common stability tests transmit through the snow cover can help people avoid situations in which they can trigger avalanches. Capacitive sensors were used within the mountain snow cover to measure peak stress below dynamic surface loads and in common stability tests. The sensors were used on 21 field days to collect over 1,605 measurements. We present measured stress data illustrating the effect of isolating a column in stability tests compared to skiing and snowmobiling over a largely undisturbed snow cover. We observed that adjusting the depth of stability tests to account for the penetration depth of snowmobiles loads the snow cover more similarly to the loading applied by snowmobiling. We found that the stress profile in stability tests more closely matched skiing and snowmobiling when the snow cover was softer compared to when the snow cover was harder. Similarly, the differences between the skier and snowmobile loading compared to the stability test loading were increased for a harder snow cover. Finally, in the Extended Column Test, a modern stability test, stress was only measured directly below the loading and not on the opposite side of the column.

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Measurements of localized dynamic loading in a mountain snow cover

Cited by 9 publications

References 5 publications

Snowmobile impacts on snowpack physical and mechanical properties

Snowmobile impacts on snowpack physical and mechanical properties

Stress measurements in the snow cover below localized dynamic loads

Stress measurements from common snow slope stability tests

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