...THE WHITE DRAGON'S WAKE...
INTRODUCTION 

TYPES OF          AVALANCHE 

THE MECHANISM OF AVALANCHE RELEASE 

FORECASTING SNOW AVALANCHES 

AVALANCHE CONTROL TECHNIQUES 

AVALANCHE HAZARD RATINGS 

AVALANCHE TRAINING FOR DOGS 

INFO ON THE PAGE OWNERS 

 

 

 TYPES OF AVALANCHE... 
  • Loose snow avalanches
Loose snow avalanches are formed in snow which have little internal cohesion among individual snow crystals. When such snow lies in a state of unstable equilibrium on a slope steeper than its natural angle of repose, a slight disturbance is enough to set snow in downhill motion progressively. If enough momentum is generated, the sliding snow may run out onto level ground, or even ascend an opposite valley wall. Such an avalanche originates at a point, growing wider as it sweeps up more snow in its descent. The demarcation between sliding and undisturbed snow is diffuse, especially in dry snow.  

 

Three processes commonly leave snow in a state of unstable equilibrium on a slope steeper than its natural angle of repose: (1) Deposition of stellar or dendritic crystals with little or no wind, (2) reduction of internal cohesion among crystals by metamorphism, and (3) reduction of internal cohesion by intrusion of liquid water. Though very numerous, most dry loose snow avalanches are small and few achieve sufficient size to cause damage. With advent of spring melting, wet loose snow avalanches also are common. Most of the latter, too, are small, but they are more likely to develop occasional destructive size, especially when confined to gulleys. 

 
Picture Gallery
In this section, you will get to see pictures of avalanches happening worldwide...dated from the 1900... 
Maps of avalanche-affected areas
Click on the globe to see frequently hit places...