Study of seismic signals of artificially released snow avalanches for monitoring purposes

̃ach, E. Surin; Sabot, F.; Furdada, Glòria; Vilaplana, Joan Manuel

doi:10.1016/s1464-1909(00)00092-7

Cited by 45 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…For this study we focus on the vertical component station ILS because it is the station with the smallest degree of saturation which is still situated on Iliamna, and approximately 7 km perpendicular (south) of the center of the Red Glacier avalanche flow path. We evaluated whether the recordings between t = 40 s to t = 80 s were amplified due to the avalanche's passing closer to the seismometer [ Suriñach et al , 2000], but note that a similar increase in amplitude is observed on all stations, suggesting that the signal strength is a source rather than path effect. Station ILI is symmetrically situated on the opposite side of the avalanche path, and the seismogram is almost identical, suggesting that for this case, the path effects are negligible or at least homogeneously distributed over different directions and within a distance of 7–8 km.…”

Section: Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Numerical models that calculate the flow path and deposition zones, or runout, are important tools for the investigation and back analysis of past events. They provide insight into the complex processes occurring especially in large avalanches, which unlike snow avalanches [ Sovilla et al , 2006; Suriñach et al , 2000] are problematic to trigger artificially and to perform in‐flow measurements (we did not consider the artificial triggering of rock avalanches by nuclear explosions in this study [ Adushkin , 2006]). There is a variety of different numerical mass movement models which can be roughly divided into empirical and physical models.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Insights into rock‐ice avalanche dynamics by combined analysis of seismic recordings and a numerical avalanche model

Schneider¹,

Bartelt²,

et al. 2010

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[1] Rock-ice avalanches larger than 1 × 10 6 m 3 are high-magnitude, low-frequency events that may occur in all ice-covered, high mountain areas around the world and can cause extensive damage if they reach populated regions. The temporal and spatial evolution of the seismic signature from two events was analyzed, and recordings at selected stations were compared to numerical model results of avalanche propagation. The first event is a rock-ice avalanche from Iliamna volcano in Alaska which serves as a "natural laboratory" with simple geometric conditions. The second one originated on Aoraki/Mt. Cook, New Zealand Southern Alps, and is characterized by a much more complex topography. A dynamic numerical model was used to calculate total avalanche momentum, total kinetic energy, and total frictional work rate, among other parameters. These three parameters correlate with characteristics of the seismic signature such as duration and signal envelopes, while other parameters such as flow depths, flow path and deposition geometry are well in agreement with observations. The total frictional work rate shows the best correlation with the absolute seismic amplitude, suggesting that it may be used as an independent model evaluation criterion and in certain cases as model calibration parameter. The good fit is likely because the total frictional work rate represents the avalanche's energy loss rate, part of which is captured by the seismometer. Deviations between corresponding calculated and measured parameters result from site and path effects which affect the recorded seismic signal or indicate deficiencies of the numerical model. The seismic recordings contain additional information about when an avalanche reaches changes in topography along the runout path and enable more accurate velocity calculations. The new concept of direct comparison of seismic and avalanche modeling data helps to constrain the numerical model input parameters and to improve the understanding of (rock-ice) avalanche dynamics.Citation: Schneider, D., P. Bartelt, J. Caplan-Auerbach, M. Christen, C. Huggel, and B. W. McArdell (2010), Insights into rock-ice avalanche dynamics by combined analysis of seismic recordings and a numerical avalanche model, J. Geophys. Res., 115, F04026,

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Section: Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insights into rock‐ice avalanche dynamics by combined analysis of seismic recordings and a numerical avalanche model

Schneider¹,

Bartelt²,

et al. 2010

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“…Seismic measurements are widely used both for monitoring and research on snow avalanches in many countries worldwide (e.g., Schaerer and Salway, 1980;Kishimura and Izumi, 1997;Leprette et al, 1998, Surinach et al, 2000van Herwijnen and Schweizer, 2011). Seismic observations provide time of occurrence of snow avalanches regardless of the visibility conditions.…”

Section: E Marchetti Et Al: Automatic Detection and Front Velocity mentioning

confidence: 99%

Infrasound array criteria for automatic detection and front velocity estimation of snow avalanches: towards a real-time early-warning system

Marchetti

Ripepe

Ulivieri³

et al. 2015

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Avalanche risk management is strongly related to the ability to identify and timely report the occurrence of snow avalanches. Infrasound has been applied to avalanche research and monitoring for the last 20 years but it never turned into an operational tool to identify clear signals related to avalanches. We present here a method based on the analysis of infrasound signals recorded by a small aperture array in Ischgl (Austria), which provides a significant improvement to overcome this limit. The method is based on array-derived wave parameters, such as back azimuth and apparent velocity. The method defines threshold criteria for automatic avalanche identification by considering avalanches as a moving source of infrasound. We validate the efficiency of the automatic infrasound detection with continuous observations with Doppler radar and we show how the velocity of a snow avalanche in any given path around the array can be efficiently derived. Our results indicate that a proper infrasound array analysis allows a robust, real-time, remote detection of snow avalanches that is able to provide the number and the time of occurrence of snow avalanches occurring all around the array, which represent key information for a proper validation of avalanche forecast models and risk management in a given area.

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“…Indeed, seismic and acoustic methods are used routinely to monitor geomorphic processes such as snow avalanches (e.g. Suriñach et al, 2000;Bessasson et al, 2007) and bedload transport (e.g. Gray et al, 2010;Rickenmann et al, 2012) and are employed on an operational basis in natural hazard warning systems (e.g.…”

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confidence: 99%

Seismic monitoring of torrential and fluvial processes

2016

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Abstract. In seismology, the signal is usually analysed for earthquake data, but earthquakes represent less than 1 % of continuous recording. The remaining data are considered as seismic noise and were for a long time ignored. Over the past decades, the analysis of seismic noise has constantly increased in popularity, and this has led to the development of new approaches and applications in geophysics. The study of continuous seismic records is now open to other disciplines, like geomorphology. The motion of mass at the Earth's surface generates seismic waves that are recorded by nearby seismometers and can be used to monitor mass transfer throughout the landscape. Surface processes vary in nature, mechanism, magnitude, space and time, and this variability can be observed in the seismic signals. This contribution gives an overview of the development and current opportunities for the seismic monitoring of geomorphic processes. We first describe the common principles of seismic signal monitoring and introduce time-frequency analysis for the purpose of identification and differentiation of surface processes. Second, we present techniques to detect, locate and quantify geomorphic events. Third, we review the diverse layout of seismic arrays and highlight their advantages and limitations for specific processes, like slope or channel activity. Finally, we illustrate all these characteristics with the analysis of seismic data acquired in a small debris-flow catchment where geomorphic events show interactions and feedbacks. Further developments must aim to fully understand the richness of the continuous seismic signals, to better quantify the geomorphic activity and to improve the performance of warning systems. Seismic monitoring may ultimately allow the continuous survey of erosion and transfer of sediments in the landscape on the scales of external forcing.

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Study of seismic signals of artificially released snow avalanches for monitoring purposes

Cited by 45 publications

References 3 publications

Insights into rock‐ice avalanche dynamics by combined analysis of seismic recordings and a numerical avalanche model

Insights into rock‐ice avalanche dynamics by combined analysis of seismic recordings and a numerical avalanche model

Infrasound array criteria for automatic detection and front velocity estimation of snow avalanches: towards a real-time early-warning system

Seismic monitoring of torrential and fluvial processes

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