Articles | Volume 25, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-929-2025
© Author(s) 2025. 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-25-929-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Review article
| 
28 Feb 2025
Review article |
| 28 Feb 2025
| 28 Feb 2025
Review article: A scoping review of human factors in avalanche decision-making
CARE (Center for Avalanche Research and Education), UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
Rebecca A. Hetland
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
Tarjei Tveito Skille
CARE (Center for Avalanche Research and Education), UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
Andrea Mannberg
CARE (Center for Avalanche Research and Education), UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
Viewed
Total article views: 7,766 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
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| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
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| 5,603 | 1,265 | 898 | 7,766 | 315 | 395 |
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- XML: 898
- Total: 7,766
- BibTeX: 315
- EndNote: 395
Total article views: 4,403 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
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| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
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Total article views: 3,363 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
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- XML: 723
- Total: 3,363
- BibTeX: 137
- EndNote: 194
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Total article views: 7,766 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 7,579 with geography defined
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Total article views: 4,403 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 4,233 with geography defined
and 170 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 3,363 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 3,346 with geography defined
and 17 with unknown origin.
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Cited
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- End user and forecaster interpretations of the European Avalanche Danger Scale: A study of avalanche probability judgments in Scotland P. Ebert et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.70016
- The ethics of communicating voluntary and personal risk P. Ebert https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-026-05692-w
- Building a shared vocabulary: toward a typology for the human factor in avalanche terrain T. Skille et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2025.100997
- Risky rewards: Tempering cognitive bias with best practices, a survey of Alaskan backcountry skiers & riders F. Wagner & G. Wright https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2026.103323
- Read It and Weep: An Evaluation of People Involved in Avalanches and Their Forecast Reading Habits S. Petelinsek et al. https://doi.org/10.1177/10806032261481064
- Buried alive: A qualitative study of avalanche survivors learning experience A. Hetland et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2026.101021
- Brief communication: Keeping pace with human factors in avalanche decision-making – an update to the NHESS scoping review (2023–2026) A. Hetland et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-4353-2026
- The Second Shift in Mountain Guiding and Avalanche Work: Intersectional risk, human-caused hazards, and risk-management effectiveness among non-dominant groups R. Reimer et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2026.106144
- Listen to experienced mountaineers… or not? The ‘experience paradox’ of ski tourers’ narratives of risk and experience E. Wikman Timm https://doi.org/10.1080/14729679.2026.2740030
- Buried Truths: A Retrospective Analysis of Post-Avalanche Accident Reports S. Petelinsek et al. https://doi.org/10.1177/10806032261485262
- The Element of Surprise: Investigating the relationship between avalanche Incidents and Prior Expectations S. Petelinsek et al. https://doi.org/10.62186/001c.162011
- Inclusion and belonging among non-dominant groups in the avalanche and mountain guiding profession R. Reimer https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emospa.2026.101222
- Learning from adversity: A typology of learners from avalanche accidents T. Røed et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/14729679.2026.2740028
- Do I Really Belong Here? An Exploration of Impostor Syndrome in Backcountry Users S. Petelinsek et al. https://doi.org/10.1177/10806032251412895
- Navigating the backcountry: Skiers’ terrain assessments and terrain choices in relation to avalanche conditions and terrain features: A field study M. Schwiersch et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2026.101038
- Backcountry skiing in Norway: Between global lifestyle sport and national tradition T. Skille & E. Skille https://doi.org/10.1177/10126902251354979
- Editorial for special issue of the Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism on human aspects of avalanche risk management A. Mannberg et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2026.101103
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- End user and forecaster interpretations of the European Avalanche Danger Scale: A study of avalanche probability judgments in Scotland P. Ebert et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.70016
- The ethics of communicating voluntary and personal risk P. Ebert https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-026-05692-w
- Building a shared vocabulary: toward a typology for the human factor in avalanche terrain T. Skille et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2025.100997
- Risky rewards: Tempering cognitive bias with best practices, a survey of Alaskan backcountry skiers & riders F. Wagner & G. Wright https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2026.103323
- Read It and Weep: An Evaluation of People Involved in Avalanches and Their Forecast Reading Habits S. Petelinsek et al. https://doi.org/10.1177/10806032261481064
- Buried alive: A qualitative study of avalanche survivors learning experience A. Hetland et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2026.101021
- Brief communication: Keeping pace with human factors in avalanche decision-making – an update to the NHESS scoping review (2023–2026) A. Hetland et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-4353-2026
- The Second Shift in Mountain Guiding and Avalanche Work: Intersectional risk, human-caused hazards, and risk-management effectiveness among non-dominant groups R. Reimer et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2026.106144
- Listen to experienced mountaineers… or not? The ‘experience paradox’ of ski tourers’ narratives of risk and experience E. Wikman Timm https://doi.org/10.1080/14729679.2026.2740030
- Buried Truths: A Retrospective Analysis of Post-Avalanche Accident Reports S. Petelinsek et al. https://doi.org/10.1177/10806032261485262
- The Element of Surprise: Investigating the relationship between avalanche Incidents and Prior Expectations S. Petelinsek et al. https://doi.org/10.62186/001c.162011
- Inclusion and belonging among non-dominant groups in the avalanche and mountain guiding profession R. Reimer https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emospa.2026.101222
- Learning from adversity: A typology of learners from avalanche accidents T. Røed et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/14729679.2026.2740028
- Do I Really Belong Here? An Exploration of Impostor Syndrome in Backcountry Users S. Petelinsek et al. https://doi.org/10.1177/10806032251412895
- Navigating the backcountry: Skiers’ terrain assessments and terrain choices in relation to avalanche conditions and terrain features: A field study M. Schwiersch et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2026.101038
- Backcountry skiing in Norway: Between global lifestyle sport and national tradition T. Skille & E. Skille https://doi.org/10.1177/10126902251354979
- Editorial for special issue of the Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism on human aspects of avalanche risk management A. Mannberg et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2026.101103
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 10 Oct 2026
Short summary
Research on human factors in avalanche decision-making has become increasingly popular in the past 2 decades. The studies span a wide range of disciplines and are published in a variety of journals. To provide an overview of this literature, this study provides a systematic scoping review of human factors in avalanche decision-making. A total of 70 papers fulfilled the search criteria. We extracted data and sorted the papers according to their main themes.
Research on human factors in avalanche decision-making has become increasingly popular in the...
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