GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Snow avalanches are a major natural hazard in most snow-covered mountain areas of the world. They are rapid gravity-driven mass movements and are considered a meteorologically induced hazard. Snow avalanches are one of the few hazards that can be forecast, and in situ measurements of instability are feasible.

Detailed explanation-2: -An avalanche is a mass of snow, ice, and debris flowing and sliding rapidly down a steep slope (Colorado Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan, 2013, p. 3-138). An avalanche is defined in Colorado state statutes as a “geologic hazard.”

Detailed explanation-3: -Loose-snow avalanches, also called sluffs, are made up of surface and/or near-surface snow that is not well-bonded. They begin at a single point, gathering more loosely-bonded snow crystals from the surface of the snowpack as they descend, gradually fanning out.

Detailed explanation-4: -They happen in all regions of Canada, but are more frequent in the mountains of British Columbia, Yukon and Alberta. Avalanches can be triggered by wind, rain, warming temperatures, snow and earthquakes. They can also be triggered by skiers, snowmobiles, hikers, vibrations from machinery or construction.