Articles | Volume 24, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-2727-2024
© Author(s) 2024. 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-24-2727-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
15 Aug 2024
Research article |
| 15 Aug 2024
| 15 Aug 2024
A large-scale validation of snowpack simulations in support of avalanche forecasting focusing on critical layers
Florian Herla
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Geography, School of Resource & Environmental Management, and Centre for Natural Hazards Research, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
Pascal Haegeli
Department of Geography, School of Resource & Environmental Management, and Centre for Natural Hazards Research, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
Simon Horton
Avalanche Canada, Revelstoke, BC, Canada
Patrick Mair
Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Short summary
Snowpack simulations are increasingly employed by avalanche warning services to inform about critical avalanche layers buried in the snowpack. However, validity concerns limit their operational value. We present methods that enable meaningful comparisons between snowpack simulations and regional assessments of avalanche forecasters to quantify the performance of the Canadian weather and snowpack model chain to represent thin critical avalanche layers on a large scale and in real time.
Snowpack simulations are increasingly employed by avalanche warning services to inform about...
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