Articles | Volume 26, issue 10
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-5167-2026
© Author(s) 2026. 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-26-5167-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Distinguishing run-up height from pressure distribution during avalanche impact on narrow obstacles: mechanisms and semi-empirical prediction from three-dimensional simulations
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland
School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), Civil Engineering Institute (IIC), Environmental Hydraulics Laboratory (LHE), EPFL, Station 18, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
Johan Gaume
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland
Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering (D-BAUG), Institute for Geotechnical Engineering (IGT), Chair of Alpine Mass Movements, ETH Zurich, Stefano-Franscini-Platz 5, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
Christophe Ancey
School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), Civil Engineering Institute (IIC), Environmental Hydraulics Laboratory (LHE), EPFL, Station 18, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
Betty Sovilla
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland
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Yidong Zhao, Lars Blatny, Xiang Feng, Mikkel Metzsch Juel, Chenfanfu Jiang, and Johan Gaume
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2605.28525, https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2605.28525, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Geoscientific Model Development (GMD).
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Computer simulations help researchers understand or predict landslides and other natural hazards, but they often waste time and memory by calculating large empty regions where nothing happens. We developed a new method that focuses only on the parts of the simulation that contain moving material. Tests ranging from simple examples to a large landslide show that the method greatly reduces computing time and memory use, making large and detailed simulations much more practical.
Alexandre Pellet, Bastian Bergfeld, Alec van Herwijnen, and Johan Gaume
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-3388, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-3388, 2026
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Snow slab avalanches release when a crack propagates through a weak layer buried beneath a dense snow slab. In supershear avalanches, this crack outruns shear waves and creates a Mach-cone pattern, similar to a sonic boom. We show that snow layering bends this cone, offering new insight into fracture experiments and avalanche release.
Julia Glaus, Jan Kleinn, Lukas Stoffel, Pia Ruttner, Katreen Wikstrom Jones, Johan Gaume, and Yves Bühler
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-999, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-999, 2026
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Snow avalanches threaten roads, ski areas, and communities in mountain regions. We present a practical method to create daily maps showing where avalanches are likely to travel and how strong they may be. By combining weather data, snow measurements, and computer simulations, our approach supports safer decisions on road closures and avalanche control and helps protect people and infrastructure.
Anna Wirbel, Felix Oesterle, Guillaume Chambon, Thierry Faug, Johan Gaume, Julia Glaus, Stefan Hergarten, Dieter Issler, Yoichi Ito, Marco Martini, Martin Mergili, Matthias Rauter, Jörg Robl, Giorgio Rosatti, Kae Tsunematsu, Christian Tollinger, Hervé Vicari, Daniel Zugliani, and Jan-Thomas Fischer
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-6053, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-6053, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Geoscientific Model Development (GMD).
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We present the first extended intercomparison of snow avalanche flow simulation tools. In this pilot-study, simulation results of mainly thickness/depth-integrated shallow flow models are compared for three simple test cases representative of standard applications. This analysis serves as a first quantitative assessment of the uncertainty introduced by the different implementation workflows (e.g., numerical schemes, ad-hoc treatments, geo-data handling, curvature treatment, etc.).
Hervé Vicari, Michael Lukas Kyburz, and Johan Gaume
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 3897–3904, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-3897-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-3897-2025, 2025
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Advanced 3D numerical models can simulate alpine mass movements at the slope scale, but their use in natural hazard mapping remains challenging. We present a tool that converts 3D simulation results into 2D maps, making them more accessible and useful for hazard assessment and mitigation. Applied to an ice avalanche simulated with the Material Point Method, it reveals key features such as slope-normal velocities and flow detachment from terrain, which are often overlooked in simpler models.
Julia Glaus, Katreen Wikstrom Jones, Perry Bartelt, Marc Christen, Lukas Stoffel, Johan Gaume, and Yves Bühler
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 2399–2419, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-2399-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-2399-2025, 2025
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This study assesses RAMMS::EXTENDED's predictive power in estimating avalanche runout distances critical for mountain road safety. Leveraging meteorological data and sensitivity analyses, it offers meaningful predictions, aiding near real-time hazard assessments and future model refinement for improved decision-making.
Grégoire Bobillier, Bertil Trottet, Bastian Bergfeld, Ron Simenhois, Alec van Herwijnen, Jürg Schweizer, and Johan Gaume
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 2215–2223, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-2215-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-25-2215-2025, 2025
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Our study investigates the initiation of snow slab avalanches. Combining experimental data with numerical simulations, we show that on gentle slopes, cracks form and propagate due to compressive fractures within a weak layer. On steeper slopes, crack velocity can increase dramatically after approximately 5 m due to a fracture mode transition from compression to shear. Understanding these dynamics provides a crucial missing piece in the puzzle of dry-snow slab avalanche formation.
Alessandro Cicoira, Daniel Tobler, Rachel Riner, Lars Blatny, Michael Lukas Kyburz, and Johan Gaume
Abstr. Int. Cartogr. Assoc., 9, 4, https://doi.org/10.5194/ica-abs-9-4-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/ica-abs-9-4-2025, 2025
Andrea Manconi, Yves Bühler, Andreas Stoffel, Johan Gaume, Qiaoping Zhang, and Valentyn Tolpekin
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 3833–3839, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-3833-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-3833-2024, 2024
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Our research reveals the power of high-resolution satellite synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) imagery for slope deformation monitoring. Using ICEYE data over the Brienz/Brinzauls instability, we measured surface velocity and mapped the landslide event with unprecedented precision. This underscores the potential of satellite SAR for timely hazard assessment in remote regions and aiding disaster mitigation efforts effectively.
Louis Védrine, Xingyue Li, and Johan Gaume
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 1015–1028, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-22-1015-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-22-1015-2022, 2022
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This study investigates how forests affect the behaviour of snow avalanches through the evaluation of the amount of snow stopped by the trees and the analysis of energy dissipation mechanisms. Different avalanche features and tree configurations have been examined, leading to the proposal of a unified law for the detrained snow mass. Outcomes from this study can be directly implemented in operational models for avalanche risk assessment and contribute to improved forest management strategy.
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Short summary
Snow avalanches threaten infrastructure in mountain regions. When designing slim structures like cableway masts, engineers currently assume that how high an avalanche piles up at an obstacle determines where high pressures act. Using detailed simulations, we show that this assumption is inaccurate: fast avalanches climb far higher than where pressure concentrates. We address this by proposing separate prediction formulas for each quantity, enabling more efficient and reliable structural design.
Snow avalanches threaten infrastructure in mountain regions. When designing slim structures like...
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