Abstract
Abstract. The identification of snow avalanche release areas is a very difficult task. The release mechanism of snow avalanches depends on many different terrain, meteorological, snowpack and triggering parameters and their interactions, which are very difficult to assess. In many alpine regions such as the Indian Himalaya, nearly no information on avalanche release areas exists mainly due to the very rough and poorly accessible terrain, the vast size of the region and the lack of avalanche records. However avalanche release information is urgently required for numerical simulation of avalanche events to plan mitigation measures, for hazard mapping and to secure important roads. The Rohtang tunnel access road near Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India, is such an example. By far the most reliable way to identify avalanche release areas is using historic avalanche records and field investigations accomplished by avalanche experts in the formation zones. But both methods are not feasible for this area due to the rough terrain, its vast extent and lack of time. Therefore, we develop an operational, easy-to-use automated potential release area (PRA) detection tool in Python/ArcGIS which uses high spatial resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) and forest cover information derived from airborne remote sensing instruments as input. Such instruments can acquire spatially continuous data even over inaccessible terrain and cover large areas. We validate our tool using a database of historic avalanches acquired over 56 yr in the neighborhood of Davos, Switzerland, and apply this method for the avalanche tracks along the Rohtang tunnel access road. This tool, used by avalanche experts, delivers valuable input to identify focus areas for more-detailed investigations on avalanche release areas in remote regions such as the Indian Himalaya and is a precondition for large-scale avalanche hazard mapping.
Highlights
Dynamics rough and poorly accessible terrain, the vast size of the re- Avalanche release zone information such as location, exgion and the lack of avalanche records
We develop an operational, easyparameters such as the exGisteenocesocfiewenatkifliacyers, the bondignrgainbeftowrmeesn(SlacMyhewrose,idzfeerreleetDwalae.,tev2r0ec0lo3on).tpeInnmtaadendndititognra,itnhesriezeisatnhde to-use automated potential release area (PRA) detection tool triggering of the avalanche, which can be initiated by addiin Python/ArcGIS which uses high spatial resolution digi- tional loading caused by humans or naturally by fresh snow tal elevation models (DEMs) and forest cover information or by abrupt warming (He.gy.dMrocClolugngyanadnSdchaerer, 2006)
The derived wfroemfEocdauigsriottahnl teeSlreryvaaisntitopenarmammoedteelrss because (DEMs) analysis tool developed during this study aims to assist avalanche experts in building up potential avalanche release area databases
Summary
Dynamics rough and poorly accessible terrain, the vast size of the re- Avalanche release zone information such as location, exgion and the lack of avalanche records. We validate and do not change as fast as mSetecoireolnogcicealsand snowpack our tool using a database of historic avalanches acquired over parameters In many regions, these parameters are often the 56 yr in the neighborhood of Davos, Switzerland, and apply only ones available because no weather stations or up-to-date this method for the avalanche tracks along the Rohtang tun- snow profiles are available at a reasonable distance to the area nel access road. Two master’s theses analyzed terrain features and their role for avalanche release areas for small-scale avalanches triggered by skiers and snowboarders (Vontobel, 2011) and large-scale avalanches (Bertogg, 2001) In this investigation, we refine the previous approaches for DEM datasets with higher spatial resolutions (better than 10 m), include additional parameters such as surface roughness and make it operational as an easy-to-use tool for ArcGIS 10
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