Articles | Volume 20, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-4515-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-4515-2026
Research article
 | 
19 Aug 2026
Research article |  | 19 Aug 2026

Parameterization of the snow fracture energy to model the onset of crack propagation in snowpack models

Diego Monteiro, Léo Viallon-Galinier, Kévin Fourteau, Oscar Dick, and Pascal Hagenmuller

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Cited articles

Adam, V., Bergfeld, B., Weißgraeber, P., van Herwijnen, A., and Rosendahl, P. L.: Fracture toughness of mixed-mode anticracks in highly porous materials, Nat. Commun., 15, 7379, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-51491-7, 2024. a, b, c, d
Bergfeld, B., van Herwijnen, A., Bobillier, G., Rosendahl, P. L., Weißgraeber, P., Adam, V., Dual, J., and Schweizer, J.: Temporal evolution of crack propagation characteristics in a weak snowpack layer: conditions of crack arrest and sustained propagation, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 293–315, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-293-2023, 2023. a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h
Bernard, A., Hagenmuller, P., Montagnat, M., and Chambon, G.: Disentangling creep and isothermal metamorphism during snow settlement with X-ray tomography, J. Glaciol., 69, 899–910, https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2022.109, 2023. a
Brun, E., David, P., Sudul, M., and Brunot, G.: A numerical model to simulate snow-cover stratigraphy for operational avalanche forecasting, J. Glaciol., 38, 13–22, 1992. a
Calonne, N., Flin, F., Morin, S., Lesaffre, B., du Roscoat, S. R., and Geindreau, C.: Numerical and experimental investigations of the effective thermal conductivity of snow, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GL049234, 2011.  a
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This research aims to improve dry-snow slab avalanche forecasts, particularly the propagation of cracks in weak layers, as current models rely on uncertain and difficult-to-measure parameters. We combined snowpack simulations with field measurements to link fracture energy to measurable and modelable snow properties. This new approach better reproduces observed crack lengths and allows weak layers to be tracked throughout the season, thereby improving operational avalanche risk assessment.
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