Case study of a large snow avalanche in the Selkirk Mountains and reflections on the Canadian size classification
Bruce Jamieson, Ruedi Beglinger, Doug Wilson
In the proceedings of: GeoHazards 6: 6th Canadian Geohazards ConferenceSession: People and Property
ABSTRACT: We review a large avalanche in the Columbia Mountains that prompted discussion about the 5-level size classification that has been used since 1981. The results of a practitioner survey and a large dataset of avalanches near BC highways are used to reflect on the 1981 size classification. The emphasis on destructive potential in the 1981 classification has important advantages but the typical values of deposit mass or volume of Size 4 and 5 avalanches are lower than for other classifications and lower than the data from BC highways. The survey showed good consistency between respondents when using the full sizes (5 levels) or half-sizes (9-10 levels).
RÉSUMÉ: Nous passons en revue d'un grand avalanche dans la chaine Columbia qui a ouvert une discussion au sujet de la classification de taille de 5 niveaux qui a été utilisée depuis 1981. Les résultats d'une enquête sur les professionnels et d'un traitement de données d'avalanches près des autoroutes en Colombie-Britannique sont utilisés pour réviser le classement 1981 de taille. L'accent sur les capacités de destruction du classement 1981 présente des avantages importants, mais les valeurs typiques d'accumulation de masse ou de volume de taille 4 et 5 avalanches sont plus faibles que celles des autres classifications et inférieurs aux données des autoroutes Colombie-Britannique. L'enquête a montré une cohérence entre les tailles complètes (5 niveaux) ou demi-tailles (9-10 niveaux).
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Jamieson, Bruce, Beglinger, Ruedi, Wilson, Doug (2014) Case study of a large snow avalanche in the Selkirk Mountains and reflections on the Canadian size classification in GeoHazards6. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Geotechnical Society.
@inproceedings{Jamieson_GeoHazards6_113,
author = {{Jamieson, Bruce}, {Beglinger, Ruedi}, {Wilson, Doug}}
title = {Case study of a large snow avalanche in the Selkirk Mountains and reflections on the Canadian size classification }
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 6th Canadian Geohazards Conference}
year = {2014}
organization = {The Canadian Geotechnical Society},
address = {Ottawa, Canada} }
title = {Case study of a large snow avalanche in the Selkirk Mountains and reflections on the Canadian size classification }
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 6th Canadian Geohazards Conference}
year = {2014}
organization = {The Canadian Geotechnical Society},
address = {Ottawa, Canada} }