Types of Avalanches
This type of avalanche starts off as a cohesive unit, then shatters into smaller pieces as it descends.
What is a slab avalanche.
This is where the avalanche begins.
What is the start zone?
Wide openings through the trees from the alpine towards the valley bottom are a sign of this.
What is avalanche terrain?
Deliberately caused avalanches.
What are artificial triggers?
This type of Avalanche can move up to 130km/h.
What are slab avalanches?
Loose snow avalanches are also sometimes called this.
What are Sluffs?
This is what the bottom of an avalanche is called.
What is the runout?
Most avalanches take place on slopes of this angle.
What is 30° and 45°?
The weight of a person or a machine causing the failure is an example of this avalanche trigger.
What are human-triggered avalanches?
Deeper snowpacks occur on slopes that face this direction.
What is away from the sun?
Overhanging masses of wind-deposited snow.
What is a Cornice?
This happens on the track of an avalanche path.
Where the avalanche hits its greatest speed?
Avalanches are less likely to form because usually snow slides away on slopes of this steepness.
What is steeper than 45°?
These are examples of human activities that can trigger avalanches.
What is skiing, hiking or driving snowmobile?
This will move loose surface snow and new falling snow from windward slopes to leeward slopes.
What is wind?
Poorly bonded surface snow slides downhill under its own weight.
What are loose snow avalanches?
Where an avalanche comes to a stop.
What is the runout?
Though uncommon avalanches can occur still occur on slopes of this steepness.
What are slopes of 25° and 30°?
Loading from new snow, windblown snow, increases in temperature and rain trigger these kinds of avalanches.
What are natural avalanches?
The most dangerous types types of avalanches for people.
What are slab avalanches?
Cornices break off creating avalanches in response to this change.
What is the weather?
The ultimate driver of avalanche conditions and determines how the snowpack develops.
What is the weather?
Avalanches happen more often on slopes of this shape.
What is a convex slope?
Workers at ski resorts use this to trigger safe and planned avalanches.
What are artificial triggers?
These are the three factors needed for an avalanche.
What is snow, slope and trigger?