Conceptual approach to the study of snow avalanches

The serious study of avalanches began half a century ago, following two major lines of investigation: a deterministic approach, inspired by the theories of fluid mechanics, and a statistical approach, both well known by all specialists in the field.

This book explores a new conceptual approach, closer to hydrology than hydraulics, which relies solely and rigorously on field data from the avalanche path studied. This approach is clarified and compared with both the deterministic and statistical approaches. The authors' past and current research implementing this approach is presented: analysis of the bulk rheology of certain avalanches, the elaboration of new conceptual models validated by comparison with field data, and a methodology for determining extreme events by extrapolating the knowledge garnered from past events. Statistics add an important dimension to the book, with standard operations such as fitting statistical distributions on random variables and other newer components such as the analysis of avalanche triggering probability.

The first nine chapters present the research carried out by the Snow Avalanche Engineering and Torrential Erosion Control Research Unit. As the exploration of these topics is far from finished, Chapter 10 examines a number of research projects that could consolidate the basis of this apparently very promising approach.