Articles | Volume 23, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-1719-2023
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-1719-2023
Research article
 | 
10 May 2023
Research article |  | 10 May 2023

A user perspective on the avalanche danger scale – insights from North America

Abby Morgan, Pascal Haegeli, Henry Finn, and Patrick Mair

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Cited articles

Aitsi-Selmi, A., Blanchard, K., and Murray, V.: Ensuring science is useful, usable and used in global disaster risk reduction and sustainable development: a view through the Sendai framework lens, Palgrave Communications, 2, 1–9, https://doi.org/10.1057/palcomms.2016.16, 2016. 
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Avalanche Canada: Danger Ratings, https://avysavvy.avalanche.ca/danger-ratings, last access: 23 July 2022. 
Bloom, B. S.: Taxonomy of educational objectives, McKay, New York, Vol. 1: Cognitive domain, 2–24, 1956. 
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Short summary
The avalanche danger scale is a critical component for communicating the severity of avalanche hazard conditions to the public. We examine how backcountry recreationists in North America understand and use the danger scale for planning trips into the backcountry. Our results provide an important user perspective on the strengths and weaknesses of the existing scale and highlight opportunities for future improvements.
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