The Location and Timing of Deep Slab Avalanches
Winter observations in the northern Rocky Mountains of Montana show two periods during which one may expect a collapsing snowpack and accompanying avalanches: (1) shaded and sheltered areas: December-February; (2) sunny and exposed areas: March-May. These periods appear to be linked in part to the c...
| Published in: | Journal of Glaciology |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
1970
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s002214300002356x https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S002214300002356X |
| Summary: | Winter observations in the northern Rocky Mountains of Montana show two periods during which one may expect a collapsing snowpack and accompanying avalanches: (1) shaded and sheltered areas: December-February; (2) sunny and exposed areas: March-May. These periods appear to be linked in part to the cyclic rise and fall of strength in the basal snow layer. It is suggested that sheltered slopes are often about a half-cycle ahead of sunny slopes because sheltered slopes tend to retain the early snows which later become the critically weak basal layer on these slopes. |
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