Articles | Volume 14, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-737-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-737-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
02 Mar 2020
Research article |
| 02 Mar 2020
| 02 Mar 2020
On the relation between avalanche occurrence and avalanche danger level
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland
Christoph Mitterer
Avalanche Forecasting Service Tyrol, Innsbruck, Austria
Frank Techel
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland
Andreas Stoffel
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland
Benjamin Reuter
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, Switzerland
Météo France, CNRS, CNRM, Centre d'Étude de la Neige,
Grenoble, France
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- Timing and identification of potential snow avalanche types: a case study of the central Tianshan Mountains J. Hao et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-021-01766-7
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- Snowpack and avalanche characterization over the 2021–2022 winter season in Sisimiut, West Greenland A. Mariani et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2023.1134728
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- Disaster effects of climate change in High Mountain Asia: State of art and scientific challenges H. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2024.06.003
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45 citations as recorded by crossref.
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- Combining random forests and class-balancing to discriminate between three classes of avalanche activity in the French Alps P. Dkengne Sielenou et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2021.103276
- Predicting avalanche danger in northern Norway using statistical models K. Eiselt & R. Graversen https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1849-2025
- Combining modelled snowpack stability with machine learning to predict avalanche activity L. Viallon-Galinier et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-2245-2023
- Snow and avalanche climates in the French Alps using avalanche problem frequencies B. Reuter et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2023.23
- Impacts of Climate Change on Snow Avalanche Activity Along a Transportation Corridor in the Tianshan Mountains J. Hao et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13753-023-00475-0
- Timing and identification of potential snow avalanche types: a case study of the central Tianshan Mountains J. Hao et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-021-01766-7
- From the Swiss Alps to the Pyrenees: Evaluating the transferability of machine learning models for avalanche forecasting C. Pérez-Guillén et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2026.104884
- Avalanche size estimation and avalanche outline determination by experts: reliability and implications for practice E. Hafner et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-2895-2023
- Can model-based avalanche forecasts match the discriminatory skill of human danger-level forecasts? A comparison from Switzerland F. Techel et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-3333-2025
- Identification and assessment of avalanche hazards in Aerxiangou section of Duku expressway in TianShan mountainous region based on unmanned aerial vehicle photography Q. Cheng et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcar.2025.01.004
- Snowpack and avalanche characterization over the 2021–2022 winter season in Sisimiut, West Greenland A. Mariani et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2023.1134728
- Avalanche danger level characteristics from field observations of snow instability J. Schweizer et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3293-2021
- Modeling spatially distributed snow instability at a regional scale using Alpine3D B. Richter et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2021.61
- On the correlation between a sub-level qualifier refining the danger level with observations and models relating to the contributing factors of avalanche danger F. Techel et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-22-1911-2022
- Snow Avalanche Hazards and Avalanche-Prone Area Mapping in Tibet D. Chu et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14120353
- The EAWS matrix, a decision support tool to determine the regional avalanche danger level (Part A): conceptual development K. Müller et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-4503-2025
- Addressing class imbalance in avalanche forecasting M. Kala et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2024.104411
- Combining OBIA, CNN, and UAV photogrammetry for automated avalanche deposit detection and characterization S. Dewali et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2023.06.033
- Snow avalanche susceptibility mapping from tree-based machine learning approaches in ungauged or poorly-gauged regions Y. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2023.106997
- Climate change impacts on snow avalanche activity and related risks N. Eckert et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-024-00540-2
- Data-driven automated predictions of the avalanche danger level for dry-snow conditions in Switzerland C. Pérez-Guillén et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-22-2031-2022
- End user and forecaster interpretations of the European Avalanche Danger Scale: A study of avalanche probability judgments in Scotland P. Ebert et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.70016
- Synergistic effects of warming and heavy snowfall accumulation on the increased risk of large-scale snow avalanches in the western Tianshan Mountains G. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2025.09.009
- The EAWS matrix, a decision support tool to determine the regional avalanche danger level (Part B): operational testing and use F. Techel et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-1161-2026
- Mapping snow avalanche debris by object-based classification in mountainous regions from Sentinel-1 images and causative indices Y. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2021.105559
- Automated avalanche hazard indication mapping on a statewide scale Y. Bühler et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-22-1825-2022
- Winter backcountry travel and avalanche airbags: Assessing risk-taking in a field study B. Streicher et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2025.101009
- Autoencoder-based feature extraction for the automatic detection of snow avalanches in seismic data A. Simeon et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-8751-2025
- Prediction of natural dry-snow avalanche activity using physics-based snowpack simulations S. Mayer et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-3445-2023
- On the correlation between the forecast avalanche danger and avalanche risk taken by backcountry skiers in Switzerland K. Winkler et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2021.103299
- Navigating the backcountry: Skiers’ terrain assessments and terrain choices in relation to avalanche conditions and terrain features: A field study M. Schwiersch et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2026.101038
- On the importance of snowpack stability, the frequency distribution of snowpack stability, and avalanche size in assessing the avalanche danger level F. Techel et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3503-2020
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- Application of Mathematical Statistics to Assess the Avalanche Danger Level in the Ile Alatau Mountains A. Medeu et al. https://doi.org/10.3103/S1068373922080052
- Methodological and conceptual challenges in rare and severe event forecast verification P. Ebert & P. Milne https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-22-539-2022
- A random forest model to assess snow instability from simulated snow stratigraphy S. Mayer et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-4593-2022
- How is avalanche danger described in textual descriptions in avalanche forecasts in Switzerland? Consistency between forecasters and avalanche danger V. Hutter et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-21-3879-2021
- Mapping avalanches with satellites – evaluation of performance and completeness E. Hafner et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-983-2021
- Characteristics and hazards of different snow avalanche types in a continental snow climate region in the Central Tianshan Mountains J. Hao et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-021-0058-5
- Characterizing snow instability with avalanche problem types derived from snow cover simulations B. Reuter et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2021.103462
- Disaster effects of climate change in High Mountain Asia: State of art and scientific challenges H. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2024.06.003
- Extreme snowfall variations in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau under warming climate C. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2024.107690
- A user perspective on the avalanche danger scale – insights from North America A. Morgan et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-1719-2023
- Mapping and characterization of avalanches on mountain glaciers with Sentinel-1 satellite imagery M. Kneib et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-2809-2024
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 23 Jun 2026
Short summary
Snow avalanches represent a major natural hazard in seasonally snow-covered mountain regions around the world. To avoid periods and locations of high hazard, avalanche warnings are issued by public authorities. In these bulletins, the hazard is characterized by a danger level. Since the danger levels are not well defined, we analyzed a large data set of avalanches to improve the description. Our findings show discrepancies in present usage of the danger scale and show ways to improve the scale.
Snow avalanches represent a major natural hazard in seasonally snow-covered mountain regions...
