Geography 2152F/G Lecture 1: L11 - Warfare and Avalanches Review.docx
19 Jan 2015
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Document Summary
Snow avalanche a mass of snow many cubic metres in volume that separates from a snowpack and flows downslope. Rocks, soil, ice and debris can travel in a similar motion; however the term avalanche is generally reserved for snow. The intensity of the hazard is dependent on slope steepness, snowpack stability and weather. Two types: an avalanche travelling as a coherent block, an avalanche that becomes wider as it travels downslope. It is estimated that over 99% of avalanches are not noticed by anyone. There are likely over 1. 5 million avalanches (large enough to kill a person) annually in western canada alone. Snowfall accumulation depends on latitude, altitude and proximity to bodies of water. Temperature decreases with altitude therefore high mountains have permanent snow cover. Snow accumulates on mountain slopes that are at angles of less than 60 degrees snow is unable to stick on slopes at angles greater than 60.
