Snow and Avalanches News — ScienceDaily
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Nov. 22, 2022 A research team has found that the Andean region of Chile could face noticeable snow loss and roughly 10% less mountain water runoff with a global warming of approximately 2.5 degrees Celsius …
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Ice Loss from Northeastern Greenland Significantly Underestimated
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Rethinking Mountain Water Security
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Climate Change to Impact Mountains on a Global Scale
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Vegetation Regulates Energy Exchange in the Arctic
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Deeper Understanding of the Icy Depths
Oct. 19, 2022 Scientists have uncovered new details of how ice forming below the ocean surface in Antarctica provides cold dense water that sinks to the seabed in an important aspect of global water …
Warmer Climate Causing Acidification of the Arctic Ocean
Oct. 19, 2022 Climate change is causing the Arctic Ocean’s sea ice to melt away. When the polar ocean loses its cover of sea ice, carbon dioxide uptake increases disrupting the food web in the water according …
Study Reveals New Insights Into How Fast-Moving Glaciers May Contribute to Sea Level Rise
Oct. 14, 2022 Models of sea level rise based on our understanding of how Earth’s ice sheets respond to a warming atmosphere could be incorrect, a new study has found. This could have significant implications …
Vast Ice Sheet Facing Climate Fight on Two Fronts
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Learning About the First Animals on Earth from Life at the Poles
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Seasonal Change in Antarctic Ice Sheet Movement Observed
Oct. 6, 2022 Some estimates of Antarctica’s total contribution to sea-level rise may be over- or underestimated, after researchers detected a previously unknown source of ice loss variability. The …
Glass Microspheres Won’t Save Arctic Sea Ice
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Ancient Ice Age Valleys Offer Clues to Future Ice Sheet Change
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Rainy Days on Track to Double in the Arctic by 2100
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Observations Confirm Model Predictions of Sea-Level Change from Greenland Melt
Sep. 29, 2022 Rising sea levels from melting glaciers and ice sheets pose an increasing threat to coastal communities worldwide. A new analysis of high-resolution satellite observations takes a major step forward …
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Source link In areas with heavy snowfall, avalanches can be a real risk. And yet, understanding the behavior of snow pack and its potential for dangerous releases has remained somewhat shrouded in mystery. But a new method of identifying when snow is likely to slide could be a game-changer for avalanche forecasting and safety.
Researchers from the University of British Columbia in Canada have identified a set of ‘ground rules’ for forecasting avalanches. Working in partnership with avalanche safety professionals, the team used weather logs and crowd-sourced data to complete their analysis of 14 large avalanches, which had occurred since 2017 between the Rocky Mountains and the Coast Mountains of Canada.
Their method identified four key aspects of the conditions most likely to cause large and dangerous avalanches. Notably, snowpacks which had been subject to long periods of extreme weather were more likely to release than those which exhibited shorter evidence of significant shifts. The presence of deeper layers of snow was also identified as an avalanche risk.
Moreover, the investigators found that while large avalanches could occur in avalanche paths used by hikers and backcountry tourists, they often occurred in low-traffic areas. These results underscore the importance of the more general approach to avalanche forecasting, which relies on awareness of current local snowpack conditions throughout a region, rather than relying on past data.
By identifying the ground rules of avalanche behavior, this research can help inform avalanche forecasts. The data can also enable avalanche professionals to recognize warning signs associated with developing snowpacks and take preventive measures to reduce the risk of large, dangerous slides. Ultimately, with improved knowledge and awareness, lives can be saved.