SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A break in the active weather pattern is bringing renewed interest to head up the hill and enjoy the snow. But even as the weather calms, there are still hidden dangers.
Dr. Ethan Greene with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center says anytime you have snow on an incline surface, there is some risk of avalanches. It's never zero. He says the most dangerous ones are called slab avalanches. This happens when one large chunk of snow breaks off the hillside and comes roaring down to the valley floor. Those slides can contain snow, timber, rocks and soil. They can be fairly small or quite large resulting in major damage and even deaths.
Crews assess the risk by carving out a section of snow and look at layers in a cross section. This can reveal weak layers in the snowpack that could result in a larger slide. The technique was developed in Europe during the 1930s. Researchers started taking techniques from soil science and geology and applied that to the snow.
Dr. Greene said this technique is very helpful determining the avalanche risk at that location. When it comes to a wide overview of the mountain range, this testing has limitations. Most avalanches happen during snowstorms, which makes it too dangerous for people to go out and test the vulnerability of the snowpack, resulting in a limited observational record.
Dr. Greene said improving technology with satellites could help to bypass the human weather interface and give a broader picture of the avalanche danger. This would also aid in research to measure how climate change may be impacting the risk of a slide.
He adds even though there's been a huge amount of progress that's been made over the last 100 years, advancements in research, weather forecasting and harnessing information from the public will give an even deeper understanding of avalanche danger.
Dr. Greene said avalanches are a major natural hazard. Even though they can reduce the risk, they can't eliminate it. That's why it's important to remember to carry avalanche rescue equipment and know how to use it. Also, having some knowledge about avalanches like where and how they happen can make the difference.
WATCH ALSO:
