DISASTER MANAGEMENT

M.Arch. - Third Semester Lecture Note- Prof.K.Mohan & Asst. Prof. Tanaya Paul

Active and Passive Methods of Avalanche Hazard Mitigation

An avalanche is the downward motion of a large mass of snow /ice on a slope with high
speed and great force causing widespread destruction on its way downhill and in the valley
region below. The downward motion may be in the form of gliding or sliding along the slope
like a rockfall, or flowing along the ground like a fluid or whirling through the air like a
whirlwind. Avalanches occur when the weight of the upper snow layers exceeds the bond
with the material beneath.

Avalanches are events of snow bound mountains and have been occurring during winter
months in the snowbound areas of the Himalayas, taking a heavy toll of lives and property,
year after year. A number of lives are lost and millions worth property is destroyed. Besides
loss of lives, avalanches also destroy forests and disrupt road communications, thereby
hindering hill area development and affecting installations in the area.

Active Methods include control of avalanches by structures, afforestation of formation zones

and controlled release of avalanches.

Active Methods

Structural Control

Structural control of avalanches is a positive method that provides a very high degree of
protection from avalanche danger. Structural control can be carried out in the formation
zone ( starting zone) by retaining barriers and drift control structures, in middle path or
Avalanche Track by diversion structures, like diversion wall, wedges and galleries and in
run-out zone by catch dams and mounds.

The retaining barriers in the formation zone arrest the creep and glide of the snow mass and
thus create back-pressure zones, which prevent fracture in a snow slab. The drift control
structures help in altering the pattern of accumulation of blowing snow, thereby preventing
creation of cornices and excessive snow accumulation. Diversionary structures divert a
flowing avalanche away from the object to be protected. Retarding structures generally
shorten the run-out zone of an avalanche short of the object to be protected.
Afforestation

Forests arrest the formation of avalanches in a number of ways. A forest with thick growth of
high trees in the starting zone inhibits the formation of avalanches. The processes involved
are: supporting the snow cover and providing anchors to the potential slab avalanches
through tree trunks ; eliminating the snow drift and retaining the snow on the tree canopies
and releasing it gradually. Forest canopy moderates variability in the energy exchange with
the snow surface, which tends to produce a uniform snow temperature distribution and
stable snow cover.

Controlled Release/ Artificial Triggering

This method attempts at pre-empting the release of an avalanche by explosives or by

controlled skiing before it triggers naturally. This method inhibits build up of snow cover on
slopes to disastrous proportions. This method is generally adopted in conjunction with
avalanche forecasting because unless the snow pack on the mountain slope is unstable, no
amount of firing would bring it down as an avalanche. Hence artificial triggering of
avalanches is an extension of avalanche forecasting.

Passive Methods

Passive methods of Avalanche hazard mitigation include increasing awareness about the
avalanche hazard, timely forecasting the avalanche danger and imparting training on safety
and rescue methods.

Awareness

There is a general lack of awareness about the avalanche phenomenon and the safety and
rescue measures to be taken against it. It is imperative that the inhabitants of the local area
and other agencies responsible for traffic regulation, winter sports and other connected
user organizations are made aware about various aspects of avalanche disasters. The
awareness enhancement efforts should include conducting awareness workshops at
various levels with various training aids like multimedia,films, classes, posters and
demonstrations.

Avalanche Forecasting

Mitigation of avalanches through avalanche forecasting is the best and most cost-effective
method available. Occurrence of an avalanche is the result of a catastrophic fracture in the
snow on a slope and its downward descent to the lower region due to gravity. The principal
factors, which affect the health of the snow cover are, snow precipitation, standing snow,
type of snow stratification, atmospheric temperature, wind conditions, etc. These factors can
also make the snow cover stronger which can conveniently rest on the slopes and they can
also make the snow cover weaker which with slight initiation can trigger an avalanche.
Thus, avalanche forecasting involves assessment of the present stability of snow cover and
its continuous monitoring with the changing meteorological conditions.

Safety and Rescue Methods

Safety in terms of preparedness in clothing, equipment, saferoute, projected weather,

physical fitness, etc is the basis for any back country travelers to be prepared about while
negotiating an avalanche prone area. The do’s and don’ts while crossing an avalanche path
area should be known and the actions to be followed on being hit by an avalanche should
be well rehearsed in advance. Even with all preparedness, avalanches strike and claim lives
year after year. This calls for efficient rescue operations. In case of avalanche victims, it
becomes all the more important, because survival chances reduce by 50 percent after the
first 30 minutes. Survivors, besides attempting to rescue buried victims, simultaneously try
to inform the rescue organizations, which calls for an efficient communication system. An
organized rescue with trained dogs and proper equipment and organization is very essential
in locating the buried avalanche victims.