A synoptic climatology of major avalanche winters in Norway

Wiley - Tập 6 Số 4 - Trang 431-446 - 1986
B. B. Fitzharris1, Steinar Bakkehøi2
1Department of Geography, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
2Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Postboks 40 Tåsen, Oslo 8, Norway

Tóm tắt

AbstractA near continuous record of avalanche deaths in Norway is compiled for 130 years from 1855, and shows a distinct downward trend, but large variations from winter to winter, with a periodicity of 12–13 years. Twelve major avalanche winters are selected, and their synoptic climatology examined using Grosswetterlagen, an index of atmospheric circulation over southern Norway, and monthly sea level pressure anomaly maps. More than one climatological pattern is needed to explain these winters. Major avalanche winters tend to be cold in December and/or January, and have more meridional and less mixed weather types compared with minor avalanche winters. Some have enhanced north or east circulations associated with large anomalies in the semi‐permanent pressure systems. Others display intense anticyclonic blocking near Britain that maintains sustained west to north‐west airflows onto Norway. A switch in circulation pattern from these to a more southerly regime is also important. These aspects of synoptic climatology are related to the mechanisms for producing big avalanches.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

Armstrong B. R.1978. “A history of avalanche hazard in San Juan and Ouray Counties Colorado” in Avalanche Control Forecasting and Safety. Proceedings of a workshop held in Banff Alberta. National Research Council Canada Technical Memorandum120 199.

Bakkehøi S.1979. “Oversikt over skader og ulykker forarsket av snoskred i Norge 1836–1978” Norges Geotekniske Institutt Report 58302–18.

Barry R. G., 1973, Synoptic Climatology: Methods and Applications

Barthel K. Bakkehøi S.andLied K.1981. “Analyse av vaersituasjunen i to snoskredsituasjoner pa Vestlandet i 1979” Norges Geotekniske Institutt Report 58302–24.

Bjornsson H., 1980, Avalanche activity in Iceland, climatic conditions, and terrain features, Journal of Glaciology, 26, 13, 10.3189/S0022143000201007

de Crecy L., 1966, Statistique et prevision d'avalanches, International Association of Scientific Hydrology, 69, 369

de Quervain M. R., 1966, Conclusions drawn from the Symposium, International Association of Scientific Hydrology, 69, 421

10.1017/S0022143000010571

Fitzharris B. B.1981. “Frequency and climatology of major avalanches at Rogers Pass 1909 to 1977” National Research Council Canada Division of Building Research Technical Paper 956 (NRC 19020).

Frutiger H.1977. “Avalanche damage and protection in Switzerland”. In Glaciological Data: Avalanches World Data Centre. A of Glaciology Report GD‐1 University of Colorado 17.

10.2307/1550396

Grove J. M., 1983, Tax records from Western Norway, as an index of Little Ice Age environmental and economic deterioration, Climatic Change, 5, 265, 10.1007/BF02423522

Hess P., 1977, Katalog der Grosswetterlagen Europas (1881–1976), Berichte des Deutschen Wetterdienstes, 113

Jones P. D. Wigley T. M. L.andBriffa K. R.1983. “Reconstructing surface pressure patterns using principal components regression on temperature and precipitation data” Proceedings II International Meeting on Statistical Climatology Lisbon Portugal 4.2.1.

La Chapelle E., 1966, Avalanche forecasting a modern synthesis, International Association of Scientific Hydrology, 69, 350

Lamb H. H., 1977, Climate: Present, Past and Future

Lamb H. H., 1966, Secular variations of the atmospheric circulation since 1750, U.K. Meteorological Office, Geophysical Memoirs, 110

10.3406/rga.1967.3337

Moses T. Kiladis G. Diaz H. F.andBarry R. G.1985. “Characteristics of pressure reversals in the North Atlantic Sector 1867–1980” Extended Summaries Third Conference on Climatic Variations and Symposium on Contemporary Climate: 1850–2100 American Meteorological Society 50.

Rudolf C., 1977, Wetter und Lawinen, Annalen der Meteorologie, 12, 166

Salbu A.1980. “En nedborundersokelse Bergen 1861–1960” summarized in Norske Hydrologisk Komite Rapport Nr 7 17.

Schaerer P. A.1962. “Avalanche defences for the Trans‐Canadian Highway at Rogers Pass” National Research Council Canada Division of Building Research Technical Paper 141 (NRC 7020).

10.1139/t77-034

10.1139/l84-009

Toushinsky G. K., 1966, Avalanche classification, and rhythms in snow cover and glaciation of the Northern Hemisphere in historical times, International Association of Scientific Hydrology, 69, 382

Thông tin
Thông tin xuất bản

Wiley

Tập 6 Số 4

431-446

Thông tin tác giả