Validation of extreme snow avalanches and related return periods derived from a statistical-dynamical model using tree-ring techniques

Schläppy, Romain; Eckert, Nicolas; Jomelli, Vincent; Stoffel, Markus; Grancher, Delphine; Brunstein, Daniel; Naaïm, Mohamed; Deschâtres, Michaël

doi:10.1016/j.coldregions.2013.12.001

Cited by 44 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…A recent study on treering-based avalanches record tested the representativity of the natural archive to the meteorological conditions during the last 50 years based on the EPA database (Schläppy et al, 2016). It revealed a underestimation compared to natural variability estimated to roughly 60 % (Corona et al, 2012;Schläppy et al, 2014), and may be transferable to lacustrine avalanche deposits. Based on the data comparisons, we propose that intervals of significant avalanche activity in the Oisans Valley are represented by sedimentary layers containing a minimum of four clasts of a > 2 mm size present in a 5 mm thickness layer.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new CT scan methodology to characterize a small aggregation gravel clast contained in a soft sediment matrix

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Over the past decades, X-ray computed tomography (CT) has been increasingly applied in the geosciences community. CT scanning is a rapid, non-destructive method allowing the assessment of relative density of clasts in natural archives samples. This study focuses on the use of this method to explore instantaneous deposits as major contributors to sedimentation of high-elevation lakes in the Alps, such as the Lake Lauvitel system (western French Alps). This lake is located within a very steep valley prone to episodic flooding and features gullies ending in the lake. This variety of erosion processes leads to deposition of sedimentary layers with distinct clastic properties. We identified 18 turbidites and 15 layers of poorly sorted fine sediment associated with the presence of gravels since AD 1880. These deposits are respectively interpreted as being induced by flood and wet avalanche. This constitutes a valuable record from a region where few historical records exist. This CT scan approach is suitable for instantaneous deposit identification to reconstruct past evolution and may be applicable to a wider variety of sedimentary archives alongside existing approaches.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new CT scan methodology to characterize a small aggregation gravel clast contained in a soft sediment matrix

et al. 2017

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“…There will clearly be an increasing need for adaptation strategies based on a robust knowledge base in order to respond to the likely changes in climate in coming decades. Favier, P., Bertrand, D., Eckert, N., Naaim, M. (2014). A reliability assessment of physical vulnerability of reinforced concrete walls loaded by snow avalanches.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With a few exceptions, studies focused the very recent decades, and only exist for a very restricted number of regions (Corona et al, 2012(Corona et al, , 2013Schläppy et al, 2014Schläppy et al, , 2016. Direct effects of climate change on the avalanche number, timing, magnitude and type mainly exist in the form of in changes in snow amounts, snowfall succession, density and stratigraphy as a function of elevation.…”

Section: Changes In Snow Avalanche Activity In Relation To Snow and Ementioning

confidence: 99%

The European mountain cryosphere: A review of past, current and future issues

Beniston

Farinotti

Stoffel

et al. 2017

Preprint

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Abstract. The mountain cryosphere is recognized to have important impacts on a range of environmental processes. This 30 paper reviews current knowledge on snow, glacier, and permafrost processes, as well as their past, current and future The Cryosphere Discuss., doi:10.5194/tc-2016Discuss., doi:10.5194/tc- -290, 2017 Manuscript under review for journal The Cryosphere Published: 9 January 2017 c Author(s) 2017. CC-BY 3.0 License. 2 evolution in mountain regions in mainland Europe. We provide a comprehensive assessment of the current state of cryosphere research in Europe and point to the different domains requiring further research to improve our understanding of climate-cryosphere interactions, cryosphere controls on physical and biological mountain systems, as well as related impacts.We highlight advances in the modeling of the cryosphere, and identify inherent uncertainties in our capability of projecting changes in the context of a warming global climate. 5

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“…Databases concerning the hazard and/or the risk have been developed in many countries, but they are heterogeneous in terms of information content (Laternser and Schneebeli, 2002;Borrel and Brunet, 2006;Bourova et al, 2016). In addition, avalanche chronologies exceeding a few decades remain an exception (Corona et al, 2013;Schläppy et al, 2014), and those not biased towards the events causing Florie Giacona et al: A 240-year history of avalanche risk in the Vosges Mountains damage or those triggered artificially even more so (Schneebeli et al, 1997;Eckert et al, 2013;Podolskiy et al, 2014). Avalanche chronologies are even completely lacking in some mountain areas, especially in medium-high mountain ranges, which are often neglected in favour of high mountains.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A 240-year history of avalanche risk in the Vosges Mountains based on non-conventional (re)sources

Giacona

Eckert

Martin

2017

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Despite the strong societal impact of mountain risks, their systematic documentation remains poor. Therefore, snow avalanche chronologies exceeding several decades are exceptional, especially in medium-high mountain ranges. This article implements a combination of historical and geographical methods leading to the reconstruction, at the scale of the entire Vosges Mountains (north-east of France), of more than 700 avalanches that have occurred since the late eighteenth century on 128 paths. The clearly episodic nature of the derived geo-chronology can be explained by three interrelated factors that have changed together over time: the body and reliability of sources, social practices conditioning the vulnerability and the natural hazard itself. Finally, the geo-chronology reflects the changes in the meaning of the hazard in social space. Specifically, the event which could be retrieved from the historical sources is an aspect of the interaction between society and its environment. These results confirm the role of the historian in contextualising and evaluating such data. It transforms these data into information that is relevant for mitigating risk and understanding its change over time. The work also demonstrates the usefulness of constructing an original database from a diverse suite of historical data and field investigations. This approach could be applied to other risk phenomena in the frequent situation in which archival data are sparse.

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Validation of extreme snow avalanches and related return periods derived from a statistical-dynamical model using tree-ring techniques

Cited by 44 publications

References 74 publications

A new CT scan methodology to characterize a small aggregation gravel clast contained in a soft sediment matrix

A new CT scan methodology to characterize a small aggregation gravel clast contained in a soft sediment matrix

The European mountain cryosphere: A review of past, current and future issues

A 240-year history of avalanche risk in the Vosges Mountains based on non-conventional (re)sources

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