Avalanche frequency and terrain characteristics at Rogers’ Pass, British Columbia, Canada
Abstract The frequency of avalanches at a given location is the primary variable for calculating the risk as input to zoning applications and decisions about avalanche-control options. In this paper, we present an in-depth study of avalanche frequency using an extensive data base of avalanche-occurr...
| Published in: | Journal of Glaciology |
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| Main Authors: | , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
1997
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000002926 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000002926 |
| Summary: | Abstract The frequency of avalanches at a given location is the primary variable for calculating the risk as input to zoning applications and decisions about avalanche-control options. In this paper, we present an in-depth study of avalanche frequency using an extensive data base of avalanche-occurrence records from Rogers’ Pass, British Columbia (43 avalanche paths; 24 years of records). This study, the first of its kind for high-frequency avalanche paths, yields the result that the frequency of avalanches may be described by a Poisson distribution. Study of the relationship between terrain variables and precipitation estimates shows that avalanche frequency is significantly correlated with path roughness, 30 year maximum water equivalent, east-west location from Rogers’ Pass summit, wind exposure and run-out zone elevation and inclination. With the length of avalanche-occurrence records and quality of the data, we believe our study is the most comprehensive in existence about avalanche frequency and its relation to terrain variables. |
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