Snow avalanches threaten mountain communities worldwide. This session is devoted to the latest results on snow cover processes, avalanche formation and avalanche dynamics. Key factors influencing snow avalanche formation are snow cover characteristics and meteorological boundary conditions (precipitation, wind, radiation etc.). The practical application of avalanche formation is avalanche forecasting.
In regard to the movement and effect of snow avalanches emphasis is placed on avalanche activity monitoring, flow dynamics, experimental techniques and practical application of numerical models to predict avalanche run-out distances, flow velocities, interaction with structures and impact pressures for hazard assessment and mitigation.
The session aims at improving our understanding of the formation process and the movement of avalanches to foster the application to avalanche forecasting as well as to risk management.