Observations of the dynamic structure of snow avalanches

Abstract

During two winters, 1990–92, the dynamic structures of snow avalanches were studied in western Norway. Artificially released wet-snow avalanches ran down the avalanche chute and stopped in front of the retaining dam. Running velocity distributions were obtained not only by video tape recorder, but also by various other recording instruments. Internal velocity was derived for the last avalanche by frequency analysis of impact pressure and optical sensor data. The vertical velocity shear of the avalanche flow has been estimated to be in the range 1–10 s⁻¹.