Below are the first 10 and last 10 pages of uncorrected machine-read text (when available) of this chapter, followed by the top 30 algorithmically extracted key phrases from the chapter as a whole.
Intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text on the opening pages of each chapter.
Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
Do not use for reproduction, copying, pasting, or reading; exclusively for search engines.
OCR for page R1
Snow Avalanche Hazards and Mitigation
in the United States
Pane! on Snow Avalanches
Committee on Ground Failure Hazards Mitigation Research
Division of Natural Hazard Mitigation
Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems
National Research Council
NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS
Washington, D.C. 1990
OCR for page R2
NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved lay the Governing Board of the National Research
Council, whose memben are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of
Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for
their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.
This report has been reviewed by a group other than the authors according to procedures approved by a Report
Review Committee consisting of members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering,
and the Institute of Medicine.
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged
in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the
general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it By the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate
that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Frank Press is president of the
National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of
Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection
of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government.
The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages
education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Robert M. White is president of the
National Academy of Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of
eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination or policy matters pertaining to the health of the public.
The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an
adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education.
Dr. Samuel O. Shier is president of the Institute of Medicine.
The National Research Council was established lay the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the
broad community of science and technology with the Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and of advising the
federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become
the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering
in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is
administered jointly lay both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Frank Press and Dr. Robert M. White are
chairman and vice~hairman, respectively, of the National Research Council.
This study was supported by the Federal Highway Administration under Purchase Order DTFlI61-85-P-00311;
U.S. Department of the Interior/Office of Surface Mining, Contract No. J5130137; U.S. Geological Survey, Grant No.
14080001-G1101; Federal Emergency Management Agency, Contract No. EMW85-K-2202; U.S. Department of the
Army; Naval Facilities Engineering Command; and National Science Foundation, Master Agreement No. 82~5616 to the
National Academy of Sciences. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this report are
those of the committee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsoring agencies.
Libraty of Congress Catalog Card No. 90~2814
Limited number of copies available without charge from:
Committee on Ground Failure Hazards Mitigation Research
Division of Natural Hazard Mitigation, HA 286
2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20418
Additional copies of this report are available from:
National Academy Press
2101 Constitution Avenue, HW
Washington, DC 20418
S218
Printed in the United States of America
Frontispiece photos: (top) Dry snow (powder) avalanche from slab release triggered from helicopter (courtesy of W.
Porton); (bottom) Wet snow avalanche in a developed area (courtesy of FISAR).
OCR for page R3
COMMITTEE ON GROUND FAILURE HAZARDS MITIGATION RESEARCH
DAVID B. PRIOR (Chair), Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
GENEVIEVE ATWOOD, Utah Geological and Mineral Survey, Salt Lake City
DAVID S. BROOKSHIRE, University of Wyoming, Laramie
RHEA L. GRAHAM, Consultant, Placitas, New Mexico
A. G. KEENE, Department of Public Works, Los Angeles, California
F. BEACH LEIGHTON, Leighton & Associates, Inc., Irvine, California
GEORGE G. MADER, William Spangle & Associates, Portola Valley, California
H. CRANE MILLER, Attorney, Washington, D.C.
WILLIAM J. PETAK, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
DWIGHT ~ SANGREY, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York
ROBERT L. SCHUSTER, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado
JAMES E. SLOSSON, Slosson & Associates, Van Nuys, California
DONALD R. SNETHEN, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater
DOUGLAS N. SWANSTON, Forestry Sciences Lab, Juneau, Alaska
BARRY VOIGHT, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
Liaison Representatives
N. B. BENNETT III, Division of Geology, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, Colorado
LEON L. BERATAN (retired), Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, D.C.
C. Y. CHEN, (formerly) Once of Surface Mining, Washington, D.C.
ROBERT A. CUMMINGS, Society of Mining Engineers, Engineers International, Inc., Tucson,
Arizona
DONALD G. FOHS, Construction Maintenance and Environmental Design Division, Federal
Highway Administration, McLean, Virginia
ROBERT P. HARTLEY, Solid and Hazardous Waste Research Division, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio
DARRELL G. HERD, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia
THOMAS L. HOLDER, Geological Society of America, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park
California
BENJAMIN I. KELLY, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C.
LOUIS KIRKALDIE, Soil Conservation Service, Washington, D.C.
PAUL KRUMPE, Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, Agengy for International Development,
Washington, D.C.
ADRIAN PELZNER, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
J. E. SABADELL, Division of Biological and Critical Systems, National Science Foundation,
Washington, D.C.
CHI-SHING WANG, Division of Health and Safety Technology, Bureau of Mines, Washington,
D.C.
DAVIS E. WHITE, Manufactured Housing and Construction Standards Division, U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, D.C.
MICHAEL YACHNIS (retired), Facilities Engineering Command, U.S. Department of the Navy,
Alexandria, Virginia
ARTHUR J. ZEIZEL, Office of Natural and Technological Hazards, Federal Emergency
Management Agency, Washington, D.C.
. . .
111
OCR for page R4
Staff
Riley M. Chung, Director
Abe Bernstein, former Senior Staff Officer
Barbara Bodling, Editor
Jennifer T. Estep, Administrative Secretary
Patricia T. Green, Research Aide
Susan R. McCutchen, Administrative Assistant
Shirley J. Whitley, Project Assistant
TV
OCR for page R5
PANEL ON SNOW AVALANCHES
BARRY VOIGHT (Chair), Pennsylvania State University, University Park
B. R. ARMSTRONG, Fulcrum Inc., Denver, Colorado
R. L. ARMSTRONG, University of Colorado, Boulder
D. BACHMAN, Consultant, Crested Butte, Colorado
D. BOWLES, Montana State University, Bozeman, and Utah Department of Transportation, Alla
R. L. BROWN, Montana State University, Bozeman
R. D. FAISANT, Attorney, Palo Alto, California
S. ~ FERGUSON, Northwest Avalanche Center, Seattle
J. ~ FREDSTON, Alaska Mountain Safety Center, Anchorage
J. L. KENNEDY, Attorney, Sun Valley, Idaho
J. KIUSALAAS, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
E. R. LACHAPELLE, University of Washington, Seattle
R. C. McFARLANE, Camrose Lutheran College, Camrose, British Columbia
R. NEWCOMB, American Avalanche Institute, Wilson, Wyoming
R. PENNIMAN, Consultant, Shoe City, California
R. PERLA, NHRI Environment, Canmore, Alberta
OCR for page R6
OCR for page R7
Acknowledgments
Principal authors of the report are pane] members B. Voight (Editor), B. R. Armstrong,
R. L. Armstrong, D. Bowles, R. L. Brown, S. A. Ferguson, I. A. Fredston, J. Kiusalaas, R.C.
McFarIane, and R. Penniman.
Valuable contributions to report planning were made by
D. Bachman, Consultant, Crested Butte, Colorado
R. D. Faisant, Attorney, Palo Alto, California
D. Fester, Consultant, Alaska Mountain Safety Center, Anchorage
J. 1~. Kennecly, Attorney, Sun Valley, Idaho
E. R. LaChapelle, University of Washington, Seattle
M. Martinelli, Ir. (retired), U.S. Forest Service
R. Newcomb, American Avalanche Institute, Wilson, Wyoming
R. Peria, NHR] Environment, Canmore, Alberta
Written or oral contributions were provided by D. Abromeit, J. Anderson, G. Borrel,
H. Boyne, D. S. Brookshire, S. Burns, E. Burr, R. Christiansen, S. Colbeck, J. E. Pagan, R.
Feuchter, G. Fiebiger, L. Fitzgerald, D. Foley, G. L. Freer, C. Fuchs, D. Gallagher, S. K.
Gerdes, W. Good, H. Gubler, J. M. Herbert, I,. Heywood, J. Hoagland, C. Jaccard, R. J.
Janda, A. Judson, R. Kattelmann, L. Knazov~cky, W. Kockelman, T. E. Lang, J. O. :Larsen,
I. C. Leiva, P. Lev, K. Lied, G. Mace, N. Macno, R. A. MandahI, R. T. Marriott, D. M.
McClung, ~ T. Mears, J. Montagne, M. Moore, T. Nakamura, K Niemczyk, H. Norem,
R. B. Olshansky, I. C. Paine, P. Schaerer, R. ~ Schmidt, C. Stethem, J. M. Taillandier, T.
W. Tesche, C. Tolton, F. Valia, K F. Voitkovskiy, W. Walters, E. Wengi, O. Wieringa, C.
Wilbour, K Williams, N. Wilson, and C. Wuilloud.
The editor apologizes for any omissions, which are probably inevitable although unin-
tentional.
. .
V11
OCR for page R8
OCR for page R9
Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
SNOW AVALANCHE PROBLEMS,
2 THE AVALANCHE PHENOMENON,
Avalanches A Ape of Ground Failure, 9
Causes of Avalanche Release, 13
Geographic Distribution of Avalanche Hazard, 14
Economic Costs of U.S. Avalanches, 16
Examples of Economic Impact, 17
AVALANCHE MANAGEMENT POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES,
Historical Development, 20
Current Status, 22
Comments, 24
4 AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON AVALANCHE MANAGEMENT,
Legislation, 27
Hazard Delineation, 30
Insurance and Disaster Relief, 34
Comments, 35
5 AVALANCHE CONTROL,
Artificial Release of Avalanches, 37
Controlling the Use of Explosives, 41
Major Problems in the Use of Explosives, 41
Mechanical Compaction and Disruption, 43
Structural Control of Avalanches, 43
Comments, 45
Notes, 46
1X
1
s
9
20
37
OCR for page R10
6 FORECASTING AVALANCHES,
Forecasting Organizations, 47
State of the Forecasting Art, 49
Comments, 50
7 AVALANCHE RESEARCH,
International Programs, 51
Current Status of Avalanche Research in the United States, 55
Comments, 57
Note, 60
8 PROBLEMS IN COMMUNICATIONS,
Technology Transfer, 62
Education, 63
Comments, 67
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS,
National Leadership, 70
Hazard Delineation and Regulation, 71
Control Measures, 72
Forecasting, 72
Research, 72
Communications, 73
Concluding Remarks, 74
REFERENCES, 75
47
51
62
69
x
OCR for page R11
OCR for page R12
