Snow Avalanches and Prevention ¶

Contents ¶

Topics
Projekte
Services and Product
Research Groups and Staff

This research unit investigates the formation and dynamics of avalanches in order to improve the forecasting of when and where avalanche events are likely to occur and their effects. It engages in process modelling based on laboratory experiments and field investigations.

On behalf of the government, it also operates the Swiss avalanche warning service. The avalanche bulletin provides information concerning the current avalanche situation and warns the public about the avalanche danger. The data underlying the service is delivered by an extensive network of observers and automatic measuring stations. The avalanches and prevention unit develops warning and information systems for public authorities and local emergency services.

Among other key duties, the unit provides advice on practical aspects of avalanche protection, and develops methods for the risk-based management of natural hazards. The latest research and development findings are continuously being translated into practice and used in the unit's intensive teaching and training activities.

It works closely together with other SLF research units and partners in Switzerland and abroad. These include national and international research establishments, cantonal and federal authorities, as well as industry, associations, and agencies responsible for public safety and tourism.

Topics ¶

Avalanche bulletin

In its avalanche bulletins, the SLF provides information about the current avalanche situation. Its content is designed as an informed warning.

Avalanches

Research into avalanche formation, dynamics and protection is therefore a key part of our remit.

Projekte ¶

Detection of avalanches using seismic and DAS measurements to improve avalanche forecasting, formation, and characterization.

The present project aims to support GreenAVS by establishing a collaboration between SLF and current avalanche management stakeholders in Greenland.

Glide-snow avalanches are considered unpredictable. It is presently unclear, where the water at the snow-soil interface comes from. By linking the two porous media, snow and soil, and assessing the mass and heat exchange across their interface, we will advance the predictability of glide avalanches.

The destructive capacity of powder snow avalanche is caused by high-energy pulses within his complex layering. The goal of this project is to understand the origin and nature of the these pulses and quantify the danger they pose to infrastructure.

The data for avalanche forecasting need to be accessible in high quality as soon as these become available. Any measurement errors, anomalies and data gaps diminish forecast accuracy. We aim to develop algorithms for real-time data cleansing by applying state-of-the-art machine learning approaches.

Services and Product ¶

By way of the avalanche bulletin and snow and weather data, the app gives you up-to-date information about the snow and avalanche situation in Switzerland.

White Risk is a web-based, interactive avalanche prevention platform.

In its avalanche bulletins, the SLF provides information about the current avalanche situation. Its content is designed as an informed warning.

Research Groups and Staff ¶