AVALANCHES

DESCRIBE THE DIASTER

• Mass of snow
• 2 common types
• -Surface avalanche
• -full depth avalanche
• Also called a snow slide

CAUSES OF THE DISASTER

• Temperature change
• Fast wind
• Human activity
• Vibrations (gun shot, bombs)

Untitled Slide

HISTORY

• Yungay, Peru, May 31, 1970
• WWI in the Alps
• Klondike Gold Rush

WHERE DO THEY USUALLY OCCUR

• High mountain tops
• High places covered with snow
• Mountain tops that are covered with fresh, soft snow

PREVENTION

• One technique is to deliberately trigger small, controlled avalanches
• They use controlled explosives or artillery fire
• they may also perform ski checking by deliberately skiing along fracture lines high on the slope
• always work with at least one partner, who remains in a safe location

PREDICTABILITY

• Snow limits predictability of avalanches
• Not possible to predict exact things
• Observers
• Avalanche forcasters

PRECAUTIONS

• Stay alert
• Avoid specific areas
• Safety equipment
• Safety courses
• Snow testing methods

SOURCES

• www.naturaldisasters.ednet.ns.ca
• www.n-d-a.org
• http://science.howstuffworks.com
• http://environment.nationalgeographic.com
• www.avalanche.org