Where are the avalanches? Rapid SPOT6 satellite data acquisition to map an extreme avalanche period over the Swiss Alps
Accurate and timely information on avalanche occurrence is key for avalanche warning, crisis management and avalanche documentation. Today such information is mainly available at isolated locations provided by observers in the field. The achieved reliability, considering accuracy, completeness and r...
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Copernicus Publications
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-3225-2019 https://www.the-cryosphere.net/13/3225/2019/tc-13-3225-2019.pdf https://doaj.org/article/9d7c3ea1015644529336c0e3a31415b2 |
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fttriple:oai:gotriple.eu:oai:doaj.org/article:9d7c3ea1015644529336c0e3a31415b2 2023-05-15T18:32:20+02:00 Where are the avalanches? Rapid SPOT6 satellite data acquisition to map an extreme avalanche period over the Swiss Alps Y. Bühler E. D. Hafner B. Zweifel M. Zesiger H. Heisig 2019-12-01 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-3225-2019 https://www.the-cryosphere.net/13/3225/2019/tc-13-3225-2019.pdf https://doaj.org/article/9d7c3ea1015644529336c0e3a31415b2 en eng Copernicus Publications doi:10.5194/tc-13-3225-2019 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://www.the-cryosphere.net/13/3225/2019/tc-13-3225-2019.pdf https://doaj.org/article/9d7c3ea1015644529336c0e3a31415b2 undefined The Cryosphere, Vol 13, Pp 3225-3238 (2019) geo envir Journal Article https://vocabularies.coar-repositories.org/resource_types/c_6501/ 2019 fttriple https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-3225-2019 2023-01-22T19:08:26Z Accurate and timely information on avalanche occurrence is key for avalanche warning, crisis management and avalanche documentation. Today such information is mainly available at isolated locations provided by observers in the field. The achieved reliability, considering accuracy, completeness and reliability of the reported avalanche events, is limited. In this study we present the spatially continuous mapping of a large avalanche period in January 2018 covering the majority of the Swiss Alps (12 500 km2). We tested different satellite sensors available for rapid mapping during the first avalanche period. Based on these experiences, we tasked SPOT6 and SPOT7 for data acquisition to cover the second, much larger avalanche period. We manually mapped the outlines of 18 737 individual avalanche events, applying image enhancement techniques to analyze regions in the shade as well as in brightly illuminated ones. The resulting dataset of mapped avalanche outlines, having unique completeness and reliability, is evaluated to produce maps of avalanche occurrence and avalanche size. We validated the mapping of the avalanche outlines using photographs acquired from helicopters just after the avalanche period. This study demonstrates the applicability of optical, very high spatial resolution satellite data to map an exceptional avalanche period with very high completeness, accuracy and reliability over a large region. The generated avalanche data are of great value in validating avalanche bulletins, in completing existing avalanche databases and for research applications by enabling meaningful statistics on important avalanche parameters. Article in Journal/Newspaper The Cryosphere Unknown The Cryosphere 13 12 3225 3238 |
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English |
topic |
geo envir |
spellingShingle |
geo envir Y. Bühler E. D. Hafner B. Zweifel M. Zesiger H. Heisig Where are the avalanches? Rapid SPOT6 satellite data acquisition to map an extreme avalanche period over the Swiss Alps |
topic_facet |
geo envir |
description |
Accurate and timely information on avalanche occurrence is key for avalanche warning, crisis management and avalanche documentation. Today such information is mainly available at isolated locations provided by observers in the field. The achieved reliability, considering accuracy, completeness and reliability of the reported avalanche events, is limited. In this study we present the spatially continuous mapping of a large avalanche period in January 2018 covering the majority of the Swiss Alps (12 500 km2). We tested different satellite sensors available for rapid mapping during the first avalanche period. Based on these experiences, we tasked SPOT6 and SPOT7 for data acquisition to cover the second, much larger avalanche period. We manually mapped the outlines of 18 737 individual avalanche events, applying image enhancement techniques to analyze regions in the shade as well as in brightly illuminated ones. The resulting dataset of mapped avalanche outlines, having unique completeness and reliability, is evaluated to produce maps of avalanche occurrence and avalanche size. We validated the mapping of the avalanche outlines using photographs acquired from helicopters just after the avalanche period. This study demonstrates the applicability of optical, very high spatial resolution satellite data to map an exceptional avalanche period with very high completeness, accuracy and reliability over a large region. The generated avalanche data are of great value in validating avalanche bulletins, in completing existing avalanche databases and for research applications by enabling meaningful statistics on important avalanche parameters. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Y. Bühler E. D. Hafner B. Zweifel M. Zesiger H. Heisig |
author_facet |
Y. Bühler E. D. Hafner B. Zweifel M. Zesiger H. Heisig |
author_sort |
Y. Bühler |
title |
Where are the avalanches? Rapid SPOT6 satellite data acquisition to map an extreme avalanche period over the Swiss Alps |
title_short |
Where are the avalanches? Rapid SPOT6 satellite data acquisition to map an extreme avalanche period over the Swiss Alps |
title_full |
Where are the avalanches? Rapid SPOT6 satellite data acquisition to map an extreme avalanche period over the Swiss Alps |
title_fullStr |
Where are the avalanches? Rapid SPOT6 satellite data acquisition to map an extreme avalanche period over the Swiss Alps |
title_full_unstemmed |
Where are the avalanches? Rapid SPOT6 satellite data acquisition to map an extreme avalanche period over the Swiss Alps |
title_sort |
where are the avalanches? rapid spot6 satellite data acquisition to map an extreme avalanche period over the swiss alps |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-3225-2019 https://www.the-cryosphere.net/13/3225/2019/tc-13-3225-2019.pdf https://doaj.org/article/9d7c3ea1015644529336c0e3a31415b2 |
genre |
The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
The Cryosphere |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 13, Pp 3225-3238 (2019) |
op_relation |
doi:10.5194/tc-13-3225-2019 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://www.the-cryosphere.net/13/3225/2019/tc-13-3225-2019.pdf https://doaj.org/article/9d7c3ea1015644529336c0e3a31415b2 |
op_rights |
undefined |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-3225-2019 |
container_title |
The Cryosphere |
container_volume |
13 |
container_issue |
12 |
container_start_page |
3225 |
op_container_end_page |
3238 |
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