Articles | Volume 13, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-3225-2019
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-3225-2019
Research article
 | 
04 Dec 2019
Research article |  | 04 Dec 2019

Where are the avalanches? Rapid SPOT6 satellite data acquisition to map an extreme avalanche period over the Swiss Alps

Yves Bühler, Elisabeth D. Hafner, Benjamin Zweifel, Mathias Zesiger, and Holger Heisig

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Cited articles

Abermann, J., Eckerstorfer, M., Malnes, E., and Hansen, B. U.: A large wet snow avalanche cycle in West Greenland quantified using remote sensing and in situ observations, Nat. Hazards, 97, 517–534, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-019-03655-8, 2019. 
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Bühler, Y., Hüni, A., Christen, M., Meister, R., and Kellenberger, T.: Automated detection and mapping of avalanche deposits using airborne optical remote sensing data, Cold Reg. Sci. Technol., 57, 99–106, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2009.02.007, 2009. 
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Short summary
We manually map 18 737 avalanche outlines based on SPOT6 optical satellite imagery acquired in January 2018. This is the most complete and accurate avalanche documentation of a large avalanche period covering a big part of the Swiss Alps. This unique dataset can be applied for the validation of other remote-sensing-based avalanche-mapping procedures and for updating avalanche databases to improve hazard maps.