The relationship of precipitation intensity to avalanche occurrence

TitleThe relationship of precipitation intensity to avalanche occurrence
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Conference1952
AuthorsAtwater, M. M.
Conference Name20th Annual Western Snow Conference
Series TitleProceedings of the 20th Annual Western Snow Conference
Date PublishedApril 1952
PublisherWestern Snow Conference
Conference LocationSacramento, California
KeywordsAvalanche research
Abstract

Avalanche hazard is always a result of a combination of factors that must be analyzed simultaneously. These factors are reviewed with emphasis placed on precipitation intensity (the number of inches of water content deposited per hour), and snow fall intensity (the number of inches of fresh sow deposited per hour). Other factors involved are old snow depth and surface condition, total snow depth, type of snow, density of snow, amount of settlement, temperature, wind direction, wind velocity and hours of duration, the amount of sluffing (small slides from the upper portion of the avalanche area). Instrumentation for continuous measurement of these factors is discussed. Several storms which caused avalanches of varying size are analyzed by text and shown graphically. A tabulation of recorded data is displayed.