Articles | Volume 18, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-18-869-2018
© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-18-869-2018
© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
19 Mar 2018
Research article |
| 19 Mar 2018
Modeling the influence of snow cover temperature and water content on wet-snow avalanche runout
Cesar Vera Valero
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland
Nander Wever
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Lausanne, Switzerland
Marc Christen
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland
Perry Bartelt
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland
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Cited
21 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Bayesian Inference in Snow Avalanche Simulation with r.avaflow J. Fischer et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences10050191
- Climate snow-avalanche linkage revealed by geomorphological, historical and tree-ring records in the central Spanish Pyrenees O. Franco-Ramos et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2026.104819
- Fluidization and snow cover effects in rock-ice-snow avalanches: Lessons from Piz Cengalo, Fluchthorn, and Piz Scerscen events Y. Zhuang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107456
- Spatiotemporal snow cover characterization and its linkage with climate change over the Chenab river basin, western Himalayas J. Dharpure et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/15481603.2020.1821150
- Simulation of cold-powder snow avalanches considering daily snowpack and weather situations J. Glaus et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-2399-2025
- A Reverse Dynamical Investigation of the Catastrophic Wood-Snow Avalanche of 18 January 2017 at Rigopiano, Gran Sasso National Park, Italy B. Frigo et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13753-020-00306-6
- Spatially validated assessment of seismic hazard-prone environments in Myanmar using multi-source data and interpretable machine learning J. Ning et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-45557-3
- Creating probability maps for avalanche hazardous areas reflecting snowpack uncertainty updates T. Tanabe et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104716
- The effect of ambient air temperature on meltwater production and flow dynamics in snow avalanches Y. Zhuang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-024-02303-y
- Wet Snow Detection From Satellite SAR Images by Machine Learning With Physical Snowpack Model Labeling M. Gallet et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2023.3342990
- An Explainable Bayesian-Optimized Hybrid Deep Learning Framework with Attention Mechanisms for Modeling Snow Avalanche Susceptibility I. Ahmad et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-026-02459-1
- Investigation into percolation and liquid water content in a multi-layered snow model for wet snow instabilities in Glacier National Park, Canada J. Madore et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.898980
- Unprecedented Winter Rainfall Initiates Large Snow Avalanche and Mass Movement Cycle in New Zealand's Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana A. Miller et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL102105
- Numerical simulation of seasonal snow in Tianshan Mountains Y. Ren et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-020-6118-y
- Synergistic effects of warming and heavy snowfall accumulation on the increased risk of large-scale snow avalanches in the western Tianshan Mountains G. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2025.09.009
- Coupled Snow Cover and Avalanche Dynamics Simulations to Evaluate Wet Snow Avalanche Activity N. Wever et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2017JF004515
- Documenting, quantifying, and modeling a large glide avalanche in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA J. Dillon et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2024.104412
- GIS-based spatial modeling of snow avalanches using four novel ensemble models P. Yariyan et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141008
- Characteristics and hazards of different snow avalanche types in a continental snow climate region in the Central Tianshan Mountains J. Hao et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-021-0058-5
- An earthquake-triggered avalanche in Nepal in 2015 was exacerbated by climate variability and snowfall anomalies Y. Zhuang et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01624-z
- Mass wasting susceptibility assessment of snow avalanches using machine learning models B. Choubin et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-75476-w
21 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Bayesian Inference in Snow Avalanche Simulation with r.avaflow J. Fischer et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences10050191
- Climate snow-avalanche linkage revealed by geomorphological, historical and tree-ring records in the central Spanish Pyrenees O. Franco-Ramos et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2026.104819
- Fluidization and snow cover effects in rock-ice-snow avalanches: Lessons from Piz Cengalo, Fluchthorn, and Piz Scerscen events Y. Zhuang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2025.107456
- Spatiotemporal snow cover characterization and its linkage with climate change over the Chenab river basin, western Himalayas J. Dharpure et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/15481603.2020.1821150
- Simulation of cold-powder snow avalanches considering daily snowpack and weather situations J. Glaus et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-2399-2025
- A Reverse Dynamical Investigation of the Catastrophic Wood-Snow Avalanche of 18 January 2017 at Rigopiano, Gran Sasso National Park, Italy B. Frigo et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13753-020-00306-6
- Spatially validated assessment of seismic hazard-prone environments in Myanmar using multi-source data and interpretable machine learning J. Ning et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-45557-3
- Creating probability maps for avalanche hazardous areas reflecting snowpack uncertainty updates T. Tanabe et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104716
- The effect of ambient air temperature on meltwater production and flow dynamics in snow avalanches Y. Zhuang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-024-02303-y
- Wet Snow Detection From Satellite SAR Images by Machine Learning With Physical Snowpack Model Labeling M. Gallet et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2023.3342990
- An Explainable Bayesian-Optimized Hybrid Deep Learning Framework with Attention Mechanisms for Modeling Snow Avalanche Susceptibility I. Ahmad et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-026-02459-1
- Investigation into percolation and liquid water content in a multi-layered snow model for wet snow instabilities in Glacier National Park, Canada J. Madore et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.898980
- Unprecedented Winter Rainfall Initiates Large Snow Avalanche and Mass Movement Cycle in New Zealand's Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana A. Miller et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL102105
- Numerical simulation of seasonal snow in Tianshan Mountains Y. Ren et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-020-6118-y
- Synergistic effects of warming and heavy snowfall accumulation on the increased risk of large-scale snow avalanches in the western Tianshan Mountains G. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2025.09.009
- Coupled Snow Cover and Avalanche Dynamics Simulations to Evaluate Wet Snow Avalanche Activity N. Wever et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2017JF004515
- Documenting, quantifying, and modeling a large glide avalanche in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA J. Dillon et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2024.104412
- GIS-based spatial modeling of snow avalanches using four novel ensemble models P. Yariyan et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141008
- Characteristics and hazards of different snow avalanche types in a continental snow climate region in the Central Tianshan Mountains J. Hao et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-021-0058-5
- An earthquake-triggered avalanche in Nepal in 2015 was exacerbated by climate variability and snowfall anomalies Y. Zhuang et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01624-z
- Mass wasting susceptibility assessment of snow avalanches using machine learning models B. Choubin et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-75476-w
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 03 Jun 2026
Short summary
Snow avalanche motion is strongly dependent on the temperature and water content of the snow cover. In this paper we use a snow cover model, driven by measured meteorological data, to set the initial and boundary conditions for wet-snow avalanche calculations. The snow cover model provides estimates of snow depth, density, temperature and liquid water content. These initial conditions are used to drive an avalanche dynamics model. The runout results are compared using a contigency analysis.
Snow avalanche motion is strongly dependent on the temperature and water content of the snow...
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