| Summary: | Most recent publications dealing with consequences related to avalanches and slushflows state that their impact on mankind will increase. That is a highly debatable statement. Milder weather, shorter winters, less snow and rise of snowline will mainly shift their potential problem away from populated areas and infrastructure. It is unlikely that expansion of settlement and/or human activity into these areas will outweigh the hazard reduction, mainly because other types of rapid mass movements will increase in those areas and in general. Surely are part of the Arctic and parts of cold continental and mountainous regions, subject to more snow and rain in winter due to the climatic change, and consequently to larger and more frequent avalanches and slushflows. It is, however, unlikely that the consequences to future activity in remote areas will exceed the reduction in consequences in more densely populated areas. Global warming reduces the impact by snow-related hazards on mankind, but the general hazard potential worldwide will most likely increase. publishedVersion
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