Glide-snow avalanche characteristics at different timescales extracted from time-lapse photography
Abstract Glide-snow avalanches release due to a loss of friction at the snow–ground interface, which can result in large avalanches that endanger infrastructure in alpine regions. The underlying processes are still relatively poorly understood, in part due to the limited data available on glide proc...
Published in: | Annals of Glaciology |
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
2023
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/aog.2023.37 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S026030552300037X |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/aog.2023.37 2024-06-23T07:45:35+00:00 Glide-snow avalanche characteristics at different timescales extracted from time-lapse photography Fees, Amelie van Herwijnen, Alec Altenbach, Moritz Lombardo, Michael Schweizer, Jürg 2023 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/aog.2023.37 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S026030552300037X en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Annals of Glaciology page 1-12 ISSN 0260-3055 1727-5644 journal-article 2023 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2023.37 2024-06-05T04:04:36Z Abstract Glide-snow avalanches release due to a loss of friction at the snow–ground interface, which can result in large avalanches that endanger infrastructure in alpine regions. The underlying processes are still relatively poorly understood, in part due to the limited data available on glide processes. Here, we introduce a pixel-based algorithm to detect glide cracks in time-lapse photographs under changing illumination and shadow conditions. The algorithm was applied to 14 years of time-lapse images at Dorfberg (Davos, Switzerland). We analysed 947 glide-snow events at a high-spatial (0.5 m) and temporal (2–15 min) resolution. Avalanche activity and glide-crack opening dynamics were investigated across timescales ranging from seasonally to hourly. Events were separated into surface (meltwater percolation) and interface events (no meltwater percolation). The results show that glide activity is highly variable between and within seasons. Most avalanches released without crack formation or within 24 h after crack opening, and release was favoured in the afternoon hours. Glide rates often showed a stick–slip behaviour. The acceleration of glide rates and non-constant increases in glide crack aspect ratio were indicators for avalanche release. This comprehensive dataset provides the basis for further investigations into glide-snow avalanche drivers. Article in Journal/Newspaper Annals of Glaciology Cambridge University Press Annals of Glaciology 1 12 |
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Open Polar |
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Cambridge University Press |
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crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract Glide-snow avalanches release due to a loss of friction at the snow–ground interface, which can result in large avalanches that endanger infrastructure in alpine regions. The underlying processes are still relatively poorly understood, in part due to the limited data available on glide processes. Here, we introduce a pixel-based algorithm to detect glide cracks in time-lapse photographs under changing illumination and shadow conditions. The algorithm was applied to 14 years of time-lapse images at Dorfberg (Davos, Switzerland). We analysed 947 glide-snow events at a high-spatial (0.5 m) and temporal (2–15 min) resolution. Avalanche activity and glide-crack opening dynamics were investigated across timescales ranging from seasonally to hourly. Events were separated into surface (meltwater percolation) and interface events (no meltwater percolation). The results show that glide activity is highly variable between and within seasons. Most avalanches released without crack formation or within 24 h after crack opening, and release was favoured in the afternoon hours. Glide rates often showed a stick–slip behaviour. The acceleration of glide rates and non-constant increases in glide crack aspect ratio were indicators for avalanche release. This comprehensive dataset provides the basis for further investigations into glide-snow avalanche drivers. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Fees, Amelie van Herwijnen, Alec Altenbach, Moritz Lombardo, Michael Schweizer, Jürg |
spellingShingle |
Fees, Amelie van Herwijnen, Alec Altenbach, Moritz Lombardo, Michael Schweizer, Jürg Glide-snow avalanche characteristics at different timescales extracted from time-lapse photography |
author_facet |
Fees, Amelie van Herwijnen, Alec Altenbach, Moritz Lombardo, Michael Schweizer, Jürg |
author_sort |
Fees, Amelie |
title |
Glide-snow avalanche characteristics at different timescales extracted from time-lapse photography |
title_short |
Glide-snow avalanche characteristics at different timescales extracted from time-lapse photography |
title_full |
Glide-snow avalanche characteristics at different timescales extracted from time-lapse photography |
title_fullStr |
Glide-snow avalanche characteristics at different timescales extracted from time-lapse photography |
title_full_unstemmed |
Glide-snow avalanche characteristics at different timescales extracted from time-lapse photography |
title_sort |
glide-snow avalanche characteristics at different timescales extracted from time-lapse photography |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/aog.2023.37 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S026030552300037X |
genre |
Annals of Glaciology |
genre_facet |
Annals of Glaciology |
op_source |
Annals of Glaciology page 1-12 ISSN 0260-3055 1727-5644 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2023.37 |
container_title |
Annals of Glaciology |
container_start_page |
1 |
op_container_end_page |
12 |
_version_ |
1802641343765282816 |