Articles | Volume 23, issue 7
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-2569-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-2569-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Review article
| 
20 Jul 2023
Review article |
| 20 Jul 2023
| 20 Jul 2023
Review article: Snow and ice avalanches in high mountain Asia – scientific, local and indigenous knowledge
Anushilan Acharya
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan
Jakob F. Steiner
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, 44600 Lalitpur, Nepal
Department of Geography and Regional Science, University of Graz, Heinrichstraße 36, 8010 Graz, Austria
Khwaja Momin Walizada
Aga Khan Agency for Habitat, Kabul, Afghanistan
Salar Ali
Department of Environmental Science, University of Baltistan, Skardu, 16100, Skardu, Pakistan
Zakir Hussain Zakir
Department of Environmental Science, University of Baltistan, Skardu, 16100, Skardu, Pakistan
Arnaud Caiserman
Mountain Societies Research Institute, University of Central Asia, Khorog, 736000, Tajikistan
Teiji Watanabe
Faculty of Environmental Earth Science and Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan
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38 citations as recorded by crossref.
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- Preface: Estimating and predicting natural hazards and vulnerabilities in the Himalayan region W. Schwanghart et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-3291-2024
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- Experimental study of a cryogenic pneumatic thrower for launching soft projectiles in avalanche protection A. Tasmukhanova et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-26523-x
- Application of dendrogeomorphology in snow avalanche hazard assessment: progress and prospects G. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-024-9362-9
- Integrated multidisciplinary analysis of snowfall, freezing risks, and territorial resilience: a case study of the Wilaya of Batna, Algeria Y. Habibi et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42990-025-00188-0
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- Challenges and opportunities for implementing nature-based solutions for disaster risk reduction in mountainous Central Asia R. Sidle et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100241
- Enhanced detection and inventory of snow avalanches along the Leh–Manali Highway, Western Himalayas using remote sensing: Development and demonstration of the modified SAFE (mSAFE) algorithm R. Chandra Prabha et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsase.2025.101830
- Early Warning Potential of Regional Seismic Network: Seismic Assessment of One of the Precursors of Chamoli 2021 Disaster D. Rawat et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41748-023-00364-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
- Machine learning for automated avalanche terrain exposure scale (ATES) classification K. Markov et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-4375-2025
- Remote Sensing Techniques for Assessing Snow Avalanche Formation Factors and Building Hazard Monitoring Systems N. Denissova et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15111343
- 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
- Catastrophic multi-phase mass flow from temperate glacier catchments in Southeast Tibetan Plateau X. Lu et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/19475705.2025.2577172
- Intensified snowmelt on Karakoram glaciers Revealed by Sentinel-1 Backscatter-Derived wet snow dynamics Y. Shen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2026.105391
- A comprehensive and version-controlled database of glacial lake outburst floods in High Mountain Asia F. Shrestha et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-3941-2023
- Assessing potential risk of glacier avalanches to hydropower infrastructure in the Himalayan region S. Laha et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-023-06389-w
- Socioecological dynamics of diverse global permafrost-agroecosystems under environmental change M. Ward Jones et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2024.2356067
- Investigating snow avalanche dynamics with a unified critical state μ(I) elastoplastic damage constitutive model P. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2026.122627
- Spatial heterogeneity and temporal tendency of channeled snow avalanche activity retrieved from Landsat images in the maritime snow climate of the Parlung Tsangpo catchment, southeastern Tibet H. Wen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2024.104206
- Terrain controls on snow accumulation and avalanche characteristics: a case study of the February 6, 2024, Bukongla Mountain Avalanche, Southern Himalayas Y. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-026-02711-2
- Mechanisms of glacier surges in the Central Himalayas uncovered using remote sensing and glacier modelling Y. Gao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109816
- 雪崩形成机制及危险性评价方法综述 . Shen Danyi et al. https://doi.org/10.3799/dqkx.2025.277
- Remote Sensing and Modeling of the Cryosphere in High Mountain Asia: A Multidisciplinary Review Q. Ye et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16101709
- Climate change impacts on snow avalanche activity and related risks N. Eckert et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-024-00540-2
- Evaluation of soil loss severity and ecological restoration approach for sustainable agriculture in the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalaya region A. Ashraf & I. Ahmad https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-023-8385-y
- Do abrupt cryosphere events in High Mountain Asia indicate earlier tipping point than expected? C. Xiao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2023.11.006
- Mapping and characterization of avalanches on mountain glaciers with Sentinel-1 satellite imagery M. Kneib et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-2809-2024
- Glacier and glacial lake dynamics from 1990 to 2024 and their impact on flood hazard in the central Nepal Himalaya A. Banerjee et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-024-9298-0
- Climate change impacts and adaptation to permafrost change in High Mountain Asia: a comprehensive review P. Baral et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/acf1b4
- Multi-breach GLOF hazard and exposure analysis of Birendra Lake in the Manaslu Region of Nepal U. Poudel et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nhres.2025.03.007
- Performance validation of High Mountain Asia 8-meter Digital Elevation Model using ICESat-2 geolocated photons G. Dandabathula et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-024-8820-8
- Snowfall retrievals and uncertainties from spaceborne W-band radar in Xinjiang, Northwest China W. Xing et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2026.106779
- Snow avalanche susceptibility, hazard, and exposure assessment in the Western Himalaya using machine learning and numerical modelling A. Abhinav & A. Sattar https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-22051-w
- Basin-scale inventory and exposure assessment of hanging glaciers, Central Himalaya N. Krishnan et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-026-00205-8
- Land cover dynamics and community perception for development of Khaptad National Park, Nepal A. Gupta & M. Ishikawa https://doi.org/10.1007/s44415-025-00054-9
- A multi-aggregation approach to estimate avalanche vulnerability and suggest phase-wise adaptation A. Singhal et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-025-06015-8
38 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Disaster effects of climate change in High Mountain Asia: State of art and scientific challenges H. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2024.06.003
- Preface: Estimating and predicting natural hazards and vulnerabilities in the Himalayan region W. Schwanghart et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-3291-2024
- From theoretical to sustainable potential for run-of-river hydropower development in the upper Indus basin S. Dhaubanjar et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.122372
- Experimental study of a cryogenic pneumatic thrower for launching soft projectiles in avalanche protection A. Tasmukhanova et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-26523-x
- Application of dendrogeomorphology in snow avalanche hazard assessment: progress and prospects G. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-024-9362-9
- Integrated multidisciplinary analysis of snowfall, freezing risks, and territorial resilience: a case study of the Wilaya of Batna, Algeria Y. Habibi et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42990-025-00188-0
- Numerical modeling of ice detachment tipping processes: insights from the Sedongpu Glacier, southeastern Tibetan Plateau T. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4487-2025
- Challenges and opportunities for implementing nature-based solutions for disaster risk reduction in mountainous Central Asia R. Sidle et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2025.100241
- Enhanced detection and inventory of snow avalanches along the Leh–Manali Highway, Western Himalayas using remote sensing: Development and demonstration of the modified SAFE (mSAFE) algorithm R. Chandra Prabha et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsase.2025.101830
- Early Warning Potential of Regional Seismic Network: Seismic Assessment of One of the Precursors of Chamoli 2021 Disaster D. Rawat et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41748-023-00364-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
- Machine learning for automated avalanche terrain exposure scale (ATES) classification K. Markov et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-4375-2025
- Remote Sensing Techniques for Assessing Snow Avalanche Formation Factors and Building Hazard Monitoring Systems N. Denissova et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15111343
- 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
- Catastrophic multi-phase mass flow from temperate glacier catchments in Southeast Tibetan Plateau X. Lu et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/19475705.2025.2577172
- Intensified snowmelt on Karakoram glaciers Revealed by Sentinel-1 Backscatter-Derived wet snow dynamics Y. Shen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2026.105391
- A comprehensive and version-controlled database of glacial lake outburst floods in High Mountain Asia F. Shrestha et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-3941-2023
- Assessing potential risk of glacier avalanches to hydropower infrastructure in the Himalayan region S. Laha et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-023-06389-w
- Socioecological dynamics of diverse global permafrost-agroecosystems under environmental change M. Ward Jones et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2024.2356067
- Investigating snow avalanche dynamics with a unified critical state μ(I) elastoplastic damage constitutive model P. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2026.122627
- Spatial heterogeneity and temporal tendency of channeled snow avalanche activity retrieved from Landsat images in the maritime snow climate of the Parlung Tsangpo catchment, southeastern Tibet H. Wen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2024.104206
- Terrain controls on snow accumulation and avalanche characteristics: a case study of the February 6, 2024, Bukongla Mountain Avalanche, Southern Himalayas Y. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-026-02711-2
- Mechanisms of glacier surges in the Central Himalayas uncovered using remote sensing and glacier modelling Y. Gao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109816
- 雪崩形成机制及危险性评价方法综述 . Shen Danyi et al. https://doi.org/10.3799/dqkx.2025.277
- Remote Sensing and Modeling of the Cryosphere in High Mountain Asia: A Multidisciplinary Review Q. Ye et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16101709
- Climate change impacts on snow avalanche activity and related risks N. Eckert et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-024-00540-2
- Evaluation of soil loss severity and ecological restoration approach for sustainable agriculture in the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalaya region A. Ashraf & I. Ahmad https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-023-8385-y
- Do abrupt cryosphere events in High Mountain Asia indicate earlier tipping point than expected? C. Xiao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2023.11.006
- Mapping and characterization of avalanches on mountain glaciers with Sentinel-1 satellite imagery M. Kneib et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-2809-2024
- Glacier and glacial lake dynamics from 1990 to 2024 and their impact on flood hazard in the central Nepal Himalaya A. Banerjee et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-024-9298-0
- Climate change impacts and adaptation to permafrost change in High Mountain Asia: a comprehensive review P. Baral et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/acf1b4
- Multi-breach GLOF hazard and exposure analysis of Birendra Lake in the Manaslu Region of Nepal U. Poudel et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nhres.2025.03.007
- Performance validation of High Mountain Asia 8-meter Digital Elevation Model using ICESat-2 geolocated photons G. Dandabathula et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-024-8820-8
- Snowfall retrievals and uncertainties from spaceborne W-band radar in Xinjiang, Northwest China W. Xing et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2026.106779
- Snow avalanche susceptibility, hazard, and exposure assessment in the Western Himalaya using machine learning and numerical modelling A. Abhinav & A. Sattar https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-22051-w
- Basin-scale inventory and exposure assessment of hanging glaciers, Central Himalaya N. Krishnan et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-026-00205-8
- Land cover dynamics and community perception for development of Khaptad National Park, Nepal A. Gupta & M. Ishikawa https://doi.org/10.1007/s44415-025-00054-9
- A multi-aggregation approach to estimate avalanche vulnerability and suggest phase-wise adaptation A. Singhal et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-025-06015-8
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 09 Jun 2026
Short summary
All accessible snow and ice avalanches together with previous scientific research, local knowledge, and existing or previously active adaptation and mitigation solutions were investigated in the high mountain Asia (HMA) region to have a detailed overview of the state of knowledge and identify gaps. A comprehensive avalanche database from 1972–2022 is generated, including 681 individual events. The database provides a basis for the forecasting of avalanche hazards in different parts of HMA.
All accessible snow and ice avalanches together with previous scientific research, local...
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