Brief communication: Weak control of snow avalanche deposit volumes by avalanche path morphology

• Published in: The Cryosphere
• Main Authors: H. Kern, N. Eckert, V. Jomelli, D. Grancher, M. Deschatres, G. Arnaud-Fassetta
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2021
• Subjects: Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Geology; QE1-996.5; The Cryosphere
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4845-2021; https://doaj.org/article/8f855df9cd6940fa8bea11a6f7661ca6

Snow avalanches are a major component of the mountain cryosphere, but little is known about the factors controlling the variability of their deposit volumes. This study investigates the influence of avalanche path morphology on ca. 1500 deposit volumes recorded between 2003 and 2018 in 77 snow avalanche paths of the French Alps. Different statistical techniques show a slight but significant link between deposit volumes and path mean elevation and orientation, with contrasted patterns between winter and spring seasons. The limited and partially non-linear nature of this control may result from the combined influence on the genesis of deposit volumes of mean path activity, climate conditions, and mechanical thresholds determining avalanche release.