Studies of seismic effects on snow stability on mountain slopes

• Main Authors: Chernouss,Pavel, Fedorenko,Yuri, Mokrov,Evgeny, Barashev,Nikolay
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Center for Avalanche Safety, "Apatit"/Polar Geophysical Institute, Kola Science Center, Russian, Academy of Science/Center for Avalanche Safety, "Apatit"/Center for Avalanche Safety, "Apatit" 2006
• Subjects: seismicity; snow stability; avalanche release; Polar meteorology and glaciology
• Online Access: https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=3005; http://id.nii.ac.jp/1291/00003005/; https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=3005&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1

Studies of seismicity caused by technological explosions at mines in the Khibini Mountains and its influence on snow stability and avalanche releases began five years ago. First quantitative assessments of such influence were obtained during this time. It has been shown that there is a statistically significant correlation between seismic events and avalanche releases. Special seismic measurements to evaluate shaking effects of explosions have been carried out. The most interesting results of the measurements are described. At least two factors caused by shaking decrease snow stability-1) Inertia (decreases friction and increases downhill force), and 2) Snow strength decrease. Deterministic and stochastic models describing the influence of the first factor are presented. A shaking table designed to study seismic influence on snow shear strength, as well as first results obtained with it, are described. Directions of future studies are outlined. The work was supported by RFBR grants: 04-05-65057-a; 05-05-64037-a; 05-05-64368-a.