AN INNOVATIVE PROTOCOL FOR CONDUCTING AND EXPLOITING SNOW TESTS: THE OUTCOME OF A RELIABLE FIELD EXPERIMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL TOOLS ON SMARTPHONE
Abstract
The avalanche risk estimation, performed by a forecaster as well as a practitioner, is based on a limited number of parameters which are now subject to a consensus. Their measurement, processing, and dissemination are fundamental, as it is the preliminary step towards the complex forecasting task. The experiences and skills of experts from various cultures have been brought together to combine and refine the commonly used snow tests (CT, ECT, and PST) and thus formalize a complete measurement protocol. This protocol has been framed thanks to a Smartphone application that guides the user in order to guarantee measurements' homogeneity. It also facilitates result recording, whatever the weather conditions might be, but also their real-time sharing. With 543 tests carried out over three winter seasons, the protocol we propose, as well as the tools supporting it, are now robust. Their validity is assessed by conducting a certain number of them in areas where avalanches have just been triggered, or in their immediate vicinity. This dataset thus highlights multiple questions that contribute to refining our understanding of the slab-triggering mechanism. All these measurements are used as an input for the CRISTAL approach and are disseminated online thanks to SYNTHESIS, an innovative tool that provides an overview of all the useful information for decision support.
Origin : Files produced by the author(s)