Timing and identification of potential snow avalanche types: a case study of the central Tianshan Mountains

Hao, Jinkai; Zhang, Zhengtao; Li, Lanhai

doi:10.1007/s10346-021-01766-7

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…In the study of the mechanism of avalanche disasters, the physical and mechanical nature and trends of the dynamic change process from the steady state to unstable sliding are analyzed under the joint action of the inherent geological conditions of the mountain area and meteorological and human-induced factors, which provides a theoretical basis for avalanche prediction and early warning and effective prevention [26,35]. At present, many scholars have examined various avalanche-causing mechanisms, such as the analysis of avalanche formation conditions and influencing factors [28,36,37], analysis of snow layer forces [38], analysis of snow mechanical properties and spatial and temporal variation patterns [27,39,40], and analysis of the impact of skiing on the snow layer stability [10,41]. Avalanche hazards are most likely to occur in parts of mountain slopes with favorable snowfall conditions and slopes ranging from 35 • to 45 • , and these parts of mountain slopes are key potential hazard sites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Study on Avalanche-Triggering Factors and Activity Characteristics in Aerxiangou, West Tianshan Mountains, China

Liu,

Zhang,

et al. 2023

Atmosphere

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Through analyzing the triggering factors and activity characteristics of avalanches in Aerxiangou in the Western Tianshan Mountains, the formation and disaster-causing process of avalanches were studied to provide theoretical support and a scientific basis for avalanche disaster prevention. In this paper, based on remote sensing interpretation and field investigation, a spatial distribution map of avalanches was established, and the induced and triggering factors in disaster-prone environments were analyzed using the certainty factor model. The degree of influence (E) of the disaster-causing factors on avalanche triggering was quantified, and the main control conditions conducive to avalanche occurrence in different periods were obtained. The RAMMS-avalanche model was used to analyze the activity characteristics at points where multiple avalanches occurred. Research results: (1) The E values of the average temperature, average snowfall, and surface roughness in February were significantly higher than those of other hazard-causing factors, reaching 1.83 and 1.71, respectively, indicating strong control. The E values of the surface cutting degree, average temperature, and average snow depth in March were all higher than 1.8, indicating that these control factors were more prominent than the other factors. In contrast, there were four hazard-causing factors with E values higher than 1.5 in April: the mean temperature, slope, surface roughness, and mean wind speed, with clear control. (2) Under the influence of the different hazard-causing factors, the types of avalanches from February–April mainly included new full-layer avalanches, surface avalanches, and full-layer wet avalanches. (3) In the RAMMS-avalanche simulation test, considering the deposition effect, compared to the previous avalanche movement path, the secondary avalanche flow accumulation area impact range changes were slight, while the movement area within the avalanche path changes was large, as were the different categories of avalanches and their different movement characteristic values. Overall, wet snow avalanches are more hazardous, and the impact force is larger. The new snow avalanches start in a short period, the sliding rate is fast, and the avalanche sliding surface (full-snow surface and face-snow) of the difference is mainly manifested in the differences in the value of the flow height.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Study on Avalanche-Triggering Factors and Activity Characteristics in Aerxiangou, West Tianshan Mountains, China

Liu,

Zhang,

et al. 2023

Atmosphere

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Snow avalanches are defined as gravity-driven flows in earth surface systems with a volume greater than 100 m 3 along a slope for a distance of at least 50 m and represent one of the most frequent natural hazards in the alpine areas ( [1]). As debris flow or mudflow, they constitute a threat for human lives, ecosystems, landscapes, and infrastructure in mountainous regions ( [2]- [3]- [4]- [5]- [6]). With an annual average of 138 fatalities due to snow avalanches, estimated by the International Commission for Alpine Rescue based on 20-year survey in North America and Alpine countries, the risk of snow avalanches is increasing worldwide due to climate change ( [7]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Modelling and Intervention Measures for Snow Avalanche Protection of the Blattbach Railway Tunnel

Fasolino¹,

Giani²,

Ambrosi³

et al. 2023

World Congress on Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering

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Snow avalanches represent an undeniable reality in the Swiss Alps both as a geomorphic process and as a type of hazard, causing fatalities, damage to structures and infrastructures. The potential damage of snow avalanches must be seriously taken into consideration when new infrastructure is planned in snow-avalanche prone areas, or to protect existing ones. The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn railway line is a Swiss infrastructure periodically subjected to snow avalanche hazard in some critical area. This research, in the frame of the practical applications that SUPSI (University of applied sciences of southern Switzerland) promotes within the civil engineering bachelor's degree program, provides a preliminary study aimed at investigating the best protection measure for avalanche risk mitigation of the infrastructure. Snow avalanche simulation are performed and calibrated based on available data obtained from historical events, allowing to estimate the avalanche debris height, length, and speed. On these basis, three solutions are proposed to handle avalanche situations, respectively an increase of the existing tunnel length before and after the critical area, some deviation earth-compacted embankments, or avalanche protection steel barriers. Different solutions are analysed and compared in terms of efficiency and costs.

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“…The aftermaths of avalanches include loss of human lives and impact on the human environment, settlements and transport infrastructure, biodiversity, landscape, etc. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. A large number of human casualties have been reported in Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Türkiye, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Canada [14,[24][25][26][27][28][29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

GIS-Based Spatial Modeling of Snow Avalanches Using Analytic Hierarchy Process. A Case Study of the Šar Mountains, Serbia

et al. 2022

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Snow avalanches are one of the most devastating natural hazards in the highlands that often cause human casualties and economic losses. The complex process of modeling terrain susceptibility requires the application of modern methods and software. The prediction of avalanches in this study is based on the use of geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and multicriteria analysis—analytic hierarchy process (AHP) on the territory of the Šar Mountains (Serbia). Five indicators (lithological, geomorphological, hydrological, vegetation, and climatic) were processed, where 14 criteria were analyzed. The results showed that approximately 20% of the investigated area is highly susceptible to avalanches and that 24% of the area has a medium susceptibility. Based on the results, settlements where avalanche protection measures should be applied have been singled out. The obtained data can will help local self-governments, emergency management services, and mountaineering services to mitigate human and material losses from the snow avalanches. This is the first research in the Republic of Serbia that deals with GIS-AHP spatial modeling of snow avalanches, and methodology and criteria used in this study can be tested in other high mountainous regions.

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Timing and identification of potential snow avalanche types: a case study of the central Tianshan Mountains

Cited by 10 publications

References 54 publications

A Study on Avalanche-Triggering Factors and Activity Characteristics in Aerxiangou, West Tianshan Mountains, China

A Study on Avalanche-Triggering Factors and Activity Characteristics in Aerxiangou, West Tianshan Mountains, China

Numerical Modelling and Intervention Measures for Snow Avalanche Protection of the Blattbach Railway Tunnel

GIS-Based Spatial Modeling of Snow Avalanches Using Analytic Hierarchy Process. A Case Study of the Šar Mountains, Serbia

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