Learning from crisis: the 2015 and 2017 avalanches in Longyearbyen
Longyearbyen has been hit by two avalanches in 2015 and 2017 causing severe damages to housing and two fatalities. In this study we investigate organised learning processes regarding emergency preparedness and response following the avalanches. Longyearbyen provides a case of particular interest as...
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Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10037/21046 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2020.105045 |
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ftunivtroemsoe:oai:munin.uit.no:10037/21046 2023-05-15T17:08:27+02:00 Learning from crisis: the 2015 and 2017 avalanches in Longyearbyen Sydnes, Are K. Sydnes, Maria Hamnevoll, Helle 2020-10-27 https://hdl.handle.net/10037/21046 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2020.105045 eng eng Elsevier Safety Science Sydnes A, Sydnes M, Hamnevoll H. Learning from crisis: the 2015 and 2017 avalanches in Longyearbyen. Safety Science. 2020 FRIDAID 1841251 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2020.105045 0925-7535 1879-1042 https://hdl.handle.net/10037/21046 openAccess Copyright 2020 The Author(s) VDP::Technology: 500 VDP::Teknologi: 500 VDP::Social science: 200 VDP::Samfunnsvitenskap: 200 Journal article Tidsskriftartikkel Peer reviewed publishedVersion 2020 ftunivtroemsoe https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2020.105045 2021-06-25T17:57:58Z Longyearbyen has been hit by two avalanches in 2015 and 2017 causing severe damages to housing and two fatalities. In this study we investigate organised learning processes regarding emergency preparedness and response following the avalanches. Longyearbyen provides a case of particular interest as climatic change rapidly is altering the environmental conditions, including the risk of avalanches. First, the study outlines the organisation, scope and participation of learning processes, that is, who learns, when and what is the scope. Second we investigate whether the lessons learnt are single-loop or double-loop; if they focus on corrective actions of existing systems and policies, or if they address the more fundamental aspects, such as norms, strategies and policies. Third, we consider how contextual factors influence learning. Finally, we investigate how learning has been followed up by implementation. The study concludes that the first avalanche of 2015 led to a broad and inclusive evaluation and learning process and a series of recommended measures, including the establishment of an avalanche warning system. It also initiated a broader double-loop process of reassessing risks, redrawing the plans and maps of Longyearbyen, and raising physical preventive barriers. However, the second avalanche demonstrated the limitations of the established system in 2015. This spurred a range of corrective actions to the system, but also it established that in a time of climate change, historical experience no longer provides a basis for assessing risks. Article in Journal/Newspaper Longyearbyen University of Tromsø: Munin Open Research Archive Longyearbyen Safety Science 134 105045 |
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Open Polar |
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University of Tromsø: Munin Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftunivtroemsoe |
language |
English |
topic |
VDP::Technology: 500 VDP::Teknologi: 500 VDP::Social science: 200 VDP::Samfunnsvitenskap: 200 |
spellingShingle |
VDP::Technology: 500 VDP::Teknologi: 500 VDP::Social science: 200 VDP::Samfunnsvitenskap: 200 Sydnes, Are K. Sydnes, Maria Hamnevoll, Helle Learning from crisis: the 2015 and 2017 avalanches in Longyearbyen |
topic_facet |
VDP::Technology: 500 VDP::Teknologi: 500 VDP::Social science: 200 VDP::Samfunnsvitenskap: 200 |
description |
Longyearbyen has been hit by two avalanches in 2015 and 2017 causing severe damages to housing and two fatalities. In this study we investigate organised learning processes regarding emergency preparedness and response following the avalanches. Longyearbyen provides a case of particular interest as climatic change rapidly is altering the environmental conditions, including the risk of avalanches. First, the study outlines the organisation, scope and participation of learning processes, that is, who learns, when and what is the scope. Second we investigate whether the lessons learnt are single-loop or double-loop; if they focus on corrective actions of existing systems and policies, or if they address the more fundamental aspects, such as norms, strategies and policies. Third, we consider how contextual factors influence learning. Finally, we investigate how learning has been followed up by implementation. The study concludes that the first avalanche of 2015 led to a broad and inclusive evaluation and learning process and a series of recommended measures, including the establishment of an avalanche warning system. It also initiated a broader double-loop process of reassessing risks, redrawing the plans and maps of Longyearbyen, and raising physical preventive barriers. However, the second avalanche demonstrated the limitations of the established system in 2015. This spurred a range of corrective actions to the system, but also it established that in a time of climate change, historical experience no longer provides a basis for assessing risks. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Sydnes, Are K. Sydnes, Maria Hamnevoll, Helle |
author_facet |
Sydnes, Are K. Sydnes, Maria Hamnevoll, Helle |
author_sort |
Sydnes, Are K. |
title |
Learning from crisis: the 2015 and 2017 avalanches in Longyearbyen |
title_short |
Learning from crisis: the 2015 and 2017 avalanches in Longyearbyen |
title_full |
Learning from crisis: the 2015 and 2017 avalanches in Longyearbyen |
title_fullStr |
Learning from crisis: the 2015 and 2017 avalanches in Longyearbyen |
title_full_unstemmed |
Learning from crisis: the 2015 and 2017 avalanches in Longyearbyen |
title_sort |
learning from crisis: the 2015 and 2017 avalanches in longyearbyen |
publisher |
Elsevier |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/10037/21046 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2020.105045 |
geographic |
Longyearbyen |
geographic_facet |
Longyearbyen |
genre |
Longyearbyen |
genre_facet |
Longyearbyen |
op_relation |
Safety Science Sydnes A, Sydnes M, Hamnevoll H. Learning from crisis: the 2015 and 2017 avalanches in Longyearbyen. Safety Science. 2020 FRIDAID 1841251 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2020.105045 0925-7535 1879-1042 https://hdl.handle.net/10037/21046 |
op_rights |
openAccess Copyright 2020 The Author(s) |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2020.105045 |
container_title |
Safety Science |
container_volume |
134 |
container_start_page |
105045 |
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1766064206648442880 |