Articles | Volume 9, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-837-2015
© Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-837-2015
© Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
04 May 2015
Research article |
| 04 May 2015
A process-based approach to estimate point snow instability
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland
J. Schweizer
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland
A. van Herwijnen
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland
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43 citations as recorded by crossref.
- A closed-form model for layered snow slabs P. Weißgraeber & P. Rosendahl 10.5194/tc-17-1475-2023
- Temporal evolution of crack propagation propensity in snow in relation to slab and weak layer properties J. Schweizer et al. 10.5194/tc-10-2637-2016
- A data exploration tool for averaging and accessing large data sets of snow stratigraphy profiles useful for avalanche forecasting F. Herla et al. 10.5194/tc-16-3149-2022
- Combining modelled snowpack stability with machine learning to predict avalanche activity L. Viallon-Galinier et al. 10.5194/tc-17-2245-2023
- Snow fracture in relation to slab avalanche release: critical state for the onset of crack propagation J. Gaume et al. 10.5194/tc-11-217-2017
- Evaluation of the snow penetrometer Avatech SP2 P. Hagenmuller et al. 10.1016/j.coldregions.2018.02.006
- A synthetic study to assess the applicability of full-waveform inversion to infer snow stratigraphy from upward-looking ground-penetrating radar data L. Schmid et al. 10.1190/geo2015-0152.1
- Modelling snowpack stability from simulated snow stratigraphy: Summary and implementation examples L. Viallon-Galinier et al. 10.1016/j.coldregions.2022.103596
- Intercomparison of snow density measurements: bias, precision, and vertical resolution M. Proksch et al. 10.5194/tc-10-371-2016
- Crack propagation speeds in weak snowpack layers B. Bergfeld et al. 10.1017/jog.2021.118
- Comparing measurements of snow mechanical properties relevant for slab avalanche release B. REUTER et al. 10.1017/jog.2018.93
- Acoustic emission monitoring and analyses for avalanche release and slab fracturing events observed in Great Himalaya J. Kapil et al. 10.1080/10589759.2023.2208717
- Micromechanical modeling of snow failure G. Bobillier et al. 10.5194/tc-14-39-2020
- Dynamic crack propagation in weak snowpack layers: insights from high-resolution, high-speed photography B. Bergfeld et al. 10.5194/tc-15-3539-2021
- Modeling snow slab avalanches caused by weak-layer failure – Part 2: Coupled mixed-mode criterion for skier-triggered anticracks P. Rosendahl & P. Weißgraeber 10.5194/tc-14-131-2020
- Relating simple drivers to snow instability B. Reuter et al. 10.1016/j.coldregions.2015.06.016
- Snow instability patterns at the scale of a small basin B. Reuter et al. 10.1002/2015JF003700
- Characterizing snow instability with avalanche problem types derived from snow cover simulations B. Reuter et al. 10.1016/j.coldregions.2021.103462
- Stochastic analysis of micro-cone penetration tests in snow P. Lin et al. 10.5194/tc-16-4811-2022
- Snow instability evaluation: calculating the skier-induced stress in a multi-layered snowpack F. Monti et al. 10.5194/nhess-16-775-2016
- Estimation of snow density from SnowMicroPen measurements S. Kaur & P. Satyawali 10.1016/j.coldregions.2016.11.001
- A mechanically-based model of snow slab and weak layer fracture in the Propagation Saw Test L. Benedetti et al. 10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2017.12.033
- Temporal changes in the mechanical properties of snow related to crack propagation after loading K. Birkeland et al. 10.1016/j.coldregions.2018.11.007
- Temporal evolution of crack propagation characteristics in a weak snowpack layer: conditions of crack arrest and sustained propagation B. Bergfeld et al. 10.5194/nhess-23-293-2023
- Modeling spatially distributed snow instability at a regional scale using Alpine3D B. Richter et al. 10.1017/jog.2021.61
- Sensitivity of modeled snow stability data to meteorological input uncertainty B. Richter et al. 10.5194/nhess-20-2873-2020
- On snow stability interpretation of extended column test results F. Techel et al. 10.5194/nhess-20-1941-2020
- On recent advances in avalanche research J. Schweizer 10.1016/j.coldregions.2017.10.014
- Experimental Study of Cone Penetration in Snow Using X-Ray Tomography I. Peinke et al. 10.3389/feart.2020.00063
- A random forest model to assess snow instability from simulated snow stratigraphy S. Mayer et al. 10.5194/tc-16-4593-2022
- A large-scale validation of snowpack simulations in support of avalanche forecasting focusing on critical layers F. Herla et al. 10.5194/nhess-24-2727-2024
- Assessing snow instability in skier-triggered snow slab avalanches by combining failure initiation and crack propagation J. Gaume & B. Reuter 10.1016/j.coldregions.2017.05.011
- Using snow depth observations to provide insight into the quality of snowpack simulations for regional-scale avalanche forecasting S. Horton & P. Haegeli 10.5194/tc-16-3393-2022
- A New Method for Comparing and Matching Snow Profiles, Application for Profiles Measured by Penetrometers P. Hagenmuller & T. Pilloix 10.3389/feart.2016.00052
- Modeling snow slab avalanches caused by weak-layer failure – Part 1: Slabs on compliant and collapsible weak layers P. Rosendahl & P. Weißgraeber 10.5194/tc-14-115-2020
- Recent developments in applied snow and avalanche research P. Haegeli & J. Schweizer 10.1016/j.coldregions.2015.09.008
- The RHOSSA campaign: multi-resolution monitoring of the seasonal evolution of the structure and mechanical stability of an alpine snowpack N. Calonne et al. 10.5194/tc-14-1829-2020
- Describing Snow Instability by Failure Initiation, Crack Propagation, and Slab Tensile Support B. Reuter & J. Schweizer 10.1029/2018GL078069
- Application of physical snowpack models in support of operational avalanche hazard forecasting: A status report on current implementations and prospects for the future S. Morin et al. 10.1016/j.coldregions.2019.102910
- Snow mechanical property variability at the slope scale – implication for snow mechanical modelling F. Meloche et al. 10.5194/tc-18-1359-2024
- Continuum cavity expansion and discrete micromechanical models for inferring macroscopic snow mechanical properties from cone penetration data S. Ruiz et al. 10.1002/2017GL074063
- Estimating the effective elastic modulus and specific fracture energy of snowpack layers from field experiments A. VAN HERWIJNEN et al. 10.1017/jog.2016.90
- Large-ensemble climate simulations to assess changes in snow stability over northern Japan Y. Katsuyama et al. 10.1017/jog.2022.85
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 07 Mar 2025
Short summary
We present a novel approach to estimate point snow instability based on snow mechanical properties from snow micro-penetrometer measurements. This is the first approach that takes into account the essential processes involved in dry-snow slab avalanche release: failure initiation and crack propagation. Comparison with field observations confirms that the two-step calculation of a stability criterion and a critical crack length is suited to describe point snow instability.
We present a novel approach to estimate point snow instability based on snow mechanical...
