The Internal Structure of Powder-Snow Avalanches

Simulation of Mixture Flows : Pollution Spreading and Powder–Snow Avalanches

We are concerned with the numerical simulation of certain multi-fluids flows, which in particular arise in the modeling of pollutant spreading and powder–snow avalanches. The behavior of the mixture is described through a single mass density and a velocity field, with an unusual constraint that relates the divergence of the velocity to derivatives of the density. We propose a numerical scheme b...

Frontal dynamics of powder snow avalanches Supplementary online material

Its gradient along a streamline is “favorable” (∂pus/∂s) < 0 for y > b′ − x, and “adverse” (∂pus/∂s) > 0 for y < b′ − x. On the interface where ψ = 0 and r = b′θ/ sin θ, pus(ψ = 0) vanishes at x = b′/2 ahead of the source (θ ' 10π/27), and is always < 0 downstream of that point. Because the interface has favorable pressure gradient until θ = θf ' 13π/20, and adverse ∀θ > θf , it is convenient t...

Mechanics of snow avalanches

The main problems of mechanics of snow avalanches are those of: (1) predicting avalanches, (2) avalanche motion, (3) the action of an avalanche upon obstacles, (4) the air wave, (5) the slow moving snow cover and its interaction with protective constructions and (6) the problem of artificial release of avalanches. This paper surveys the modern state of scientific knowledge about the nature of p...

Snow Avalanches, Ice Avalanches and Glacier Surges

On the Predictability of Snow Avalanches

Snow avalanches are generally rare and occasionally extreme events. In the general context of prediction and predictably of extreme events, we will examine whether snow avalanches are predictable based on a few examples of forecasts at different scales. Clearly, avalanche predictability depends on scale. When the regional avalanche danger is High or Very High (Extreme), an avalanche is likely s...