Category: Snow Science

Snow Science

If snow scientists and avalanche experts are writing about it or discussing it; scroll here to expand your knowledge base.  

 

The Swiss Way: Expanding the Avalanche Danger Scale

The Swiss Way: Expanding the Avalanche Danger Scale

by | Oct 12, 2023 | ,

Bucking the trend towards simpler is better, the Swiss expand their avalanche danger scale by adding sub-levels.

After five years of internal use and a season of limited public use in 2022-2023, the Swiss Avalanche Warning Service will add sublevels to their avalanche forecast this season. Yes, they are adding complexity, which seems to be bucking the trend. In Europe generally, including Switzerland, forecasters use five discrete levels to define the avalanche danger level.

This season, instead of a straight 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, the danger levels will include 1, 2-, 2=, 2+, 3-, 3=, 3+, and 4-.

ISSW Bend: Kick it off with ATES v2.0

ISSW Bend: Kick it off with ATES v2.0

by | Oct 11, 2023 | ,

A new ATES system, codified as ATES v.2, rates terrain between 0-4, with 0=non-avalanche, 1=simple, 2=challenging, 3=complex, and 4=extreme, respectively.

The introduction of “0”, described as “No known exposure to avalanches. Very low-angle or densely forested slopes located well away from avalanche paths, or designated trails/routes with no exposure to avalanches,” allows for a broader interpretation of the terrain.

Collapses at the End of the Earth

Collapses at the End of the Earth

by | Sep 14, 2023 | , , ,

I was digging a quick hand pit, marveling at the size of the near-surface facets (5 mm!) capped by a crust in the upper snowpack, when Pachi Ibarra stepped off the skintrack with a mischievous smile and gave a quick jump. With a sound like a shotgun blast, the entire slope collapsed. She laughed as I just about fell over backwards trying to get my skis pointed downhill. Nothing moved. Instead, we listened as the collapse extended away, seemingly traveling several kilometers up the glacier. 

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