Snow gliding and glide avalanches: a review

Abstract

Snow gliding is a downhill motion of snow on the ground; it is able to affect afforestation (uprooting of plants) and to cause soil erosion. Once the glide motion turns into an avalanche movement, the process is called a glide avalanche. Winters with continuing snow gliding and a high activity of glide avalanches might be called ‘glide winters’. The most recent ‘glide winter’ in the European Alps was 2011/2012. Glide avalanches have the ability to cause damage to buildings and infrastructure. This review describes the progress in research, from basic snow glide measurements via the design of sophisticated models through to comprehensive investigations concerning glide avalanche formation. However, despite the great progress made in this field of research, there are still some unsolved problems, such as the influence of soil conditions on snow gliding or the prediction of glide avalanches.