Use of a regional approach for long-term simulation of snow avalanche regime: A case study in the Italian alps

Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research

Volumn 41, Issue 3, 2009, Pages 285-300

  Bocchiola, Daniele ^a   Medagliani, Michele ^a   Rosso, Renzo ^a  

^a POLITECNICO DI MILANO   (Italy)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ALPINE ENVIRONMENT; AVALANCHE; HAZARD ASSESSMENT; LAND USE PLANNING; MODELING; PROBABILITY; SNOW;

ALPS; EURASIA; EUROPE; ITALY; LOMBARDY; SOUTHERN EUROPE; VALTELLINA;

EID: 69249119920     PISSN: 15230430     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1657/1938-4246-41.3.285     Document Type: Article

References (118)

1. Ackroyd, P., 1987: Erosion by snow avalanche and implications for geomorphic stability, Torlesse Range, New Zealand. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 19(1): 65-70.
2. Ancey, C., Meunier, M., and Richard, D., 2003: Inverse problem in avalanche dynamics models. Water Resources Research, 39(4): 1099, doi: 10.1029/2002WR001749.
3. Ancey, C., Gervasoni, C., and Meunier, M., 2004: Computing extreme avalanches. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 39: 161-180.
4. Arena Lo Riggio, E., Mura, M., Bocchiola, D., Rulli, M. C., and Rosso, R., 2009: Un modello a formulazione energetica per il calcolo dinamico delle valanghe [An energy formulation based
5. model for dynamic calculation of avalanche]. Neve e Valanghe, 65: 32-41 (in Italian, with abstract in English).
6. Bacchi, B., Becciu, G., and Kottegoda, N., 1994: Bivariate exponential model applied to intensities and durations of extreme rainfall. Journal of Hydrology, 155(1-2): 225-236.
7. Baeriswyl, P. A., and Rebetez, M., 1997: Regionalization of precipitation in Switzerland by means of principal components analysis. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 58: 31-41.
8. Barbolini, M., Gruber, U., Keylock, C. J., Naaim, M., and Savi, F., 2000: Application of statistical and hydraulic-continuum dense-snow avalanche models to five real European sites. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 31: 133-149.
9. Barbolini, M., Natale, L., and Savi, F., 2002: Effect of release conditions uncertainty on avalanche hazard mapping. Natural Hazards, 25: 225-244.
10. Barbolini, M., Cappabianca, F., and Savi, F., 2003: A new method for estimation of avalanche distance exceeded probability. Surveys in Geophysics, 24: 587-601.
11. Barbolini, M., Natale, L., Cordola, M., and Tecilla, G., 2004: Guidelines for mapping of avalanche hazard prone areas [Linee Guida metodologiche per la perimetrazione delle aree esposte al pericolo di valanghe]. Neve e Valanghe, 53: 6-13 (in Italian with abstract in English).
12. Barbolini, M., Biancardi, A., Cappabianca, F., Natale, L., and Gagliardi, M., 2005: Laboratory study of erosion processes in snow avalanches. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 43: 1-9.
13. Bartelt, P., and Lehning, M., 2002: A physical SNOWPACK model for the Swiss avalanche warning. Part I: numerical model. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 35: 123-145.
14. Bartelt, P., and Stöckly, V., 2001: The influence of tree and branch fracture, overturning and debris entrainment on snow avalanche flow. Annals of Glaciology, 32: 209-216.
15. Bartelt, P., Salm, B., and Gruber, U., 1999: Calculating densesnow avalanche runout using a Voellmy-fluid model with active/passive longitudinal straining. Journal of Glaciology, 45: 242-254.
16. Bebi, P., Kienast, F., and Schonenberger, W., 2001: Assessing structures in mountain forests as a basis for investigating the forests' dynamics and protective function. Forest Ecology and Management, 145: 3-14.
17. Bell, L., Gardner, J., and De Scally, F., 1990: An estimate of snow avalanche debris transport, Kaghan Valley, Himalaya, Pakistan. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 22(3): 317-321.
18. Benda, L. E., and Sias, J. C., 2003: A quantitative framework for evaluating the mass balance of in stream organic debris. Forest Ecology and Management, 172: 1-16.
19. Bianchi Janetti, E., and Gorni, E., 2007: Avalanche dynamics calculations: a study on snow cover height in Switzerland with regional approach. Master thesis. Politecnico di Milano, Italy (available at:
20. http://www.diiar.polimi.it/cimi/persona.asp?id=35'>http://www.diiar. polimi.it/cimi/persona.asp?id=35
21. Bianchi Janetti, E., Gorni, E., Sovilla, B., and Bocchiola, D., 2008: Regional snow depth estimates for avalanche calculations using a 2D model with snow entrainment. Annals of Glaciology, 49: 63-70.
22. Blikra, L. H., and Sæmundson, T., 1998: The potential of sedimentology and stratigraphy in avalanche-hazard research. I: NGI Publication, 203: 60-64 (ISSN: 0078-1193).
23. Bocchiola, D., and Medagliani, M., 2007: Morphology of avalanches: a study in the Bormio area [Morfologia delle valanghe, uno studio nell'area del Bormiese]. Neve e Valanghe, 3: 70-79 (in Italian with abstract in English) (available upon request or at: http://www.aineva.it/ presenta.html). http://www.aineva.it/presenta.html
24. Bocchiola, D., and Rosso, R., 2007a: The distribution of daily Snow Water Equivalent in the central Italian Alps. Advances in Water Resources, 30: 135-147.
25. Bocchiola, D., and Rosso, R., 2007b: The use of regional approach for hazard mapping at an avalanche site in northern Italy. Advances in Geosciences, 14: 1-9.
26. Bocchiola, D., De Michele, C., and Rosso, R., 2003: Review of recent advances in index flood estimation. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 7(3): 283-296.
27. Bocchiola, D., Medagliani, M., and Rosso, R., 2006: Regional snow depth frequency curves for avalanche hazard mapping in central Italian Alps. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 46(3): 204-221.
28. Bocchiola, D., Bianchi Janetti, E., Gorni, E., Marty, C., and Sovilla, B., 2008a: Regional evaluation of three day snow depth frequency curves for Switzerland. Natural Hazard and Earth System Sciences, 8: 685-705.
29. Bocchiola, D., Bianchi Janetti, E., and Medagliani, M., 2008b: A regional approach for the simulation of extreme snow avalanches: a case study in the Italian Alps. Oral presentation and abstract at EGU General Assembly, Vienna, 13-18 April 2008.
30. Bovis, M. J., and Mears, A. I., 1976: Statistical prediction of snow avalanche runout from terrain variables in Colorado. Arctic and Alpine Research, 8(1): 115-120.
31. Bozhinskiy, A. N., and Chernous, P. A., 1986: Probability model of snow stability on mountain slopes. Materialy Glyatsiologicheskikh Issledovanii. Khronika, Obsuzhdeniya, 55: 53-60 (available in English in Kotlyakov, V. M. [ed.], 1997: 34 Selected papers on main ideas of the soviet glaciology 1940s-1980s. Moscow: Glaciological Association of Russia, 411-420).
32. Bozhinskiy, A. N., and Losev, K. S., 1998: The Fundamentals of Avalanche Science. SLF Davos, Mitteilungen n. 55, 280 pp.
33. Burkard, A., and Salm, B., 1992: Die bestimmung der mittleren anrissmachtigkeit d0 zur berechnung von fliesslawinen [Estimate of the average release depth d0 for the calculation of flowing avalanches]. Davos: Internal Report of the Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research, No. 668 (in German; also available in French under the title: Estimation de l'epaisseur moyenne de declenchement d0 pour le calcul des avalanches coulantes, translated into French by C. Ancey, Cemagref, 1994).
34. Casteller, A., Stöckli, V., Villalba, R., and Mayer, A. C., 2007: An evaluation of dendro-ecological indicators of snow avalanches in the Swiss Alps. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 39(2): 218-228.
35. Christen, M., Bartelt, P., and Gruber, U., 2002: AVAL-1D: Numerical Calculations of Dense Flow and Powder Snow Avalanches, User Manual Eidgenössische Institut für Schnee und Lawinenforschung, SLF Davos: Switzerland
36. Cowpertwait, P. S. P., 1994: A generalized point process model of rainfall. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, A447: 23-37.
37. Cowpertwait, P. S. P., 1995: A generalized spatial-temporal model of rainfall based on a cluster point process. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, A450: 163-175.
38. De Michele, C., and Rosso, R., 2001: Uncertainty assessment of regionalized flood frequency estimates. Journal of Hydrological Engineering, 6(6): 453-459.
39. De Michele, C., and Rosso, R., 2002: A multi-level approach to flood frequency regionalization. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 6(2): 185-194.
40. De Scally, F. A., and Owens, I. F., 2005: Depositional processes and particle characteristics on fans in the Southern Alps, New Zealand. Geomorphology, 69: 46-56.
41. Decaulne, A., and Saemundsson, T., 2006: Geomorphic evidence for present-day snow-avalanche and debris-flow impact in the Icelandic Westfjords. Geomorphology, 80: 80-93.
42. Eglit, M. E., and Demidov, K. S., 2005: Mathematical modeling of snow entrainment in avalanche motion. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 43: 10-23.
43. Elder, K., Dozier, J., and Michaelsen, J., 1991: Snow accumulation and distribution in an alpine watershed. Water Resources Research, 27(7): 1541-1552.
44. Elder, K., Rosenthal, W., and Davis, R. E., 1998: Estimating the spatial distribution of snow water equivalence in a montane watershed. Hydrological Processes, 12: 1793-1808.
45. Erschbamer, B., 1989: Vegetation on avalanche paths in the Alps. Vegetatio, 80: 139-146.
46. Fetherston, K. L., Naiman, R. J., and Bilby, R. E., 1995: Large woody debris, physical process and riparian forest development in montane river networks of the Pacific Northwest. Geomorphology, 13: 133-144.
47. Freppaz, M., Lunardi, S., Maggioni, M., Valfrè di Bonzo, F., and Bizzocchi, T., 2006: Valanghe ed erosione del suolo: risultati preliminari ottenuti in due siti sperimentali in Valle D'Aosta [Soil erosion of avalanches: preliminary results from two sites in Aosta Valley]. Neve e Valanghe, 59: 34-41 (in Italian with abstract in English) (available upon request or at: http://www.aineva.it/pubblica/neve59/4-erosione.html).
48. Fuchs, S., and McAlpin, M. C., 2005: The net benefit of public expenditures on avalanche defence structures in the municipality of Davos, Switzerland. Natural Hazards and Earth Systems Science, 5: 319-330.
49. Fuchs, S., Bründl, M., and Stötter, J., 2004: Development of avalanche risk between 1950 and 2000 in the Municipality of Davos, Switzerland. Natural Hazards and Earth Systems Science, 4: 263-275.
50. Gabriele, S., and Arnell, N., 1991: A hierarchic approach to regional flood frequency analysis. Water Resources Research, 27(6): 1281-1289.
51. Gardner, J. S., 1983: Observations on erosion by wet snow avalanches, Mount Rae area, Alberta, Canada. Arctic and Alpine Research, 15(2): 271-274.
52. Geertsema, M., and Pojar, J. J., 2007: Influence of landslides on biophysical diversity-A perspective from British Columbia. Geomorphology, 89: 55-69.
53. Gruber, U., and Sardemann, S., 2003: High-frequency avalanches: release area characteristics and run-out distances. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 37: 439-451.
54. Heckmann, T., Wichmann, V., and Becht, M., 2002: Quantifying sediment transport by avalanches in the Bavarian Alps-First results. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, N.F., Suppl.-Bd. 127: 137-152.
55. Heckmann, T., Wichmann, V., and Becht, M., 2005: Sediment transport by avalanches in the Bavarian Alps revisited-A perspective on modelling. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, N.F. Suppl. 138: 11-25.
56. Hopf, J., 1998: An overview of natural hazard zoning with special reference to avalanches.
57. In Proceedings of the Anniversary Conference for the 25 Years of Snow Avalanche Research at NGI, Voss, Norway, 12-16 May 1998. Norwegian Geotechnical Institute Publications No. 203, 28-35.
58. Hutter, K., 1996: Chapter 11: avalanche dynamics. In Singh, V. (ed.), The Hydrology of Disasters. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 319-390.
59. Jomelli, V., and Bertran, P., 2001: Wet snow avalanche deposits in the French Alps: structure and sedimentology. Geografiska Annaler, 83A: 15-28.
60. Jomelli, V., and Francou, B., 2000: Comparing the characteristics of rockfall talus and snow avalanche landforms in an Alpine environment using a new methodological approach: Massif des Ecrins, French Alps. Geomorphology, 35: 181-192.
61. Katz, R. W., 1999: Extreme value theory for precipitation: sensitivity analysis for climate change. Advances in Water Resources, 23: 133-139.
62. Katz, R. W., Parlange, M. B., and Naveau, P., 2002: Statistics of extremes in hydrology. Advances in Water Resources, 25: 1287-1304.
63. Keylock, C. J., 2005: An alternative form for the statistical distribution of extreme avalanche runout distances. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 42: 185-193.
64. Keylock, C. J., and Barbolini, M., 2001: Snow avalanche impact pressure-Vulnerability
65. relations for use in risk assessment. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 38: 227-238.
66. King, R. H., and Brewster, G. R., 1978: The impact of environmental stress on subalpine pedogenesis, Banff National Park, Alberta. Arctic and Alpine Research, 10(2): 295-312.
67. Kottegoda, N., and Rosso, R., 1997: Statistics, Probability and Reliability for Civil and Environmental Engineers. New York: McGraw-Hill.
68. Kottegoda, N. T., Natale, L., and Reiteri, E., 2000: Statistical modelling of daily streamflows using rainfall input and curve number technique. Journal of Hydrology, 234: 170-186.
69. Krajick, K., 1998: Ecology-Animals thrive in an avalanche's wake. Science, 279: 1853.
70. Kuhn, M., 2003: Redistribution of snow and glacier mass balance from a hydro meteorological model. Journal of Hydrology, 282: 95-103.
71. Kulakowski, D., Rixen, C., and Bebi, P., 2006: Changes in forest structure and in the relative importance of climatic stress as a result of suppression of avalanche disturbances. Forest Ecology and Management, 223: 66-74.
72. Lied, K., and Bakkehøi, S., 1980: Empirical calculations of snow avalanche run-out distance based on topographic parameters. Journal of Glaciology, 26(94): 165-177.
73. Luckman, B. H., 1977: The geomorphic activity of snow avalanches. Geografiska Annaler, 59: 31-48.
74. Mace, R. D., Waller, J. S., Manley, T. L., Lyon, L. J., and Zuuring, H., 1996: Relationships among grizzly bears, roads and habitat in the Swan Mountains, Montana. Journal of Applied Ecology, 33: 1395-1404.
75. Maggioni, M., and Gruber, U., 2003: The influence of topographic parameters on avalanche release dimension and frequency. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 37(3): 407-419.
76. Martinec, J., and Rango, A., 1991: An indirect evaluation of snow reserves in mountain basins. In Bergmann, H., Lang, H., Frey, W., Issler, D., and Salm, B. (eds.), Proceedings: Snow, Hydrology and Forest in High Alpine Areas. Vienna: IAHS Publication 205, 111-120.
77. Martinelli, M., 1986: A test of the avalanche runout equations developed by the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 13: 19-33.
78. Martinelli, O., Modena, D., Bocchiola, D., De Michele, C., and Rosso, R., 2004: La risorsa idrica nivale in Lombardia [The snow water resources in Lombardia region]. Neve e Valanghe, 1: 44-57 (in Italian with abstract in English) (available upon request or at: http://www.aineva.it/ pubblica/neve51/6-bocchiola.html). http://www. aineva.it/pubblica/neve51/6-bocchiola.html
79. McClung, D. M., 2001: Extreme avalanche runout: a comparison of empirical models. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 38: 1254-1265.
80. McClung, D. M., 2003: Magnitude and frequency of avalanches in relation to terrain and forest cover. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 35(1): 82-90.
81. McClung, D. M., and Mears, A. I., 1991: Extreme value prediction of snow avalanche runout. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 19: 163-175.
82. McClung, D. M., Mears, A. I., and Schaerer, P. A., 1989: Extreme avalanche run-out: data from four mountain ranges. Annals of Glaciology, 13: 180-184.
83. McLellan, B. N., and Hovey, F. W., 2001: Habitats selected by grizzly bears in a multiple use landscape. Journal of Wildlife Management, 65: 92-99.
84. Medagliani, M., Garavaglia, S., Bocchiola, D., and Rosso, R., 2007: Il bilancio idrologico dei bacini a forte contributo nivale [Hydrological balance of snow fed watersheds: the case of Mallero river]. L'ACQUA, No. 3, 9-20 (in Italian with abstract in English) (reprints available upon request).
85. Muntán, E., Andreu, L., Oller, P., Gutiérrez, E., and Martínez, P., 2004: Dendrochronological study of the Canal del Roc Roig avalanche path: first results of the Aludex project in the Pyrenees. Annals of Glaciology, 38(1): 173-179.
86. Naaim, M., Faug, T., and Naaim-Bouvet, F., 2003: Dry granular flow modelling including erosion and deposition. Surveys in Geophysics, 24(5): 569-585.
87. Naaim, M., Naaim-Bouvet, F., Faug, T., and Bouchet, A., 2004: Dense snow avalanche modelling: flow, erosion, deposition and obstacle effects. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 39: 193-204.
88. Pagani, A., and Sala, G., 2007: Simulazione di fenomeni valanghivi per la valutazione delle aree soggette a rischio: il caso del monte Vallecetta (SO) [Simulation of snow avalanches for hazard mapping: the case study of the Vallecetta mountain (SO)]. Master thesis. Politecnico di Milano, Italy (available upon request to D. Bocchiola).
89. Patten, R. S., and Knight, D. H., 1994: Snow avalanches and vegetation pattern in Cascade Canyon, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, U.S.A. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 26(1): 35-41.
90. Perla, R. I., Cheng, T. T., and McClung, D. M., 1980: A two-parameter model of snow-avalanche motion. Journal of Glaciology, 26(94): 197-207.
91. Rahman, A., Weinmann, P. E., Hoang, T. M. T., and Laurenson, E. M. 2002: MonteCarlo simulation of flood frequency curves from rainfall. Journal of Hydrology, 256: 196-210.
92. Reardon, B. A., Pederson, G. T., Caruso, C. J., and Fagre, D. B., 2008: Spatial reconstructions and comparisons of historic snow avalanche frequency and extent using tree rings in Glacier National Park, Montana, U.S.A. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 40(1): 148-160.
93. Regione Lombardia, 2002: SIRVAL, Sistema Informativo Regionale VALanghe (Regional Avalanche Information System), CD. Ed. Regione Lombardia, Direzione Generale Territorio ed Urbanistica, Milano (in Italian).
94. Riboni, A., Sovilla, B., Bocchiola, D., and Rosso, R., 2005: Altezza al distacco delle
95. valanghe: un approccio regionale [The avalanche depth at release: a regional approach]. Neve e Valanghe, 55: 22-39 (in Italian, with abstract in English) (available upon request or at: http://www.aineva.it/ pubblica/neve55/3-bocchiola.html).
96. http://www.aineva.it/pubblica/neve55/3-bocchiola. html
97. Rulli, M. C., and Rosso, R., 2002: An integrated simulation method for flash-flood risk assessment: 1. Frequency predictions in the Bisagno River by combining stochastic and deterministic methods. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 6: 267-283.
98. Rulli, M. C., and Rosso, R., 2005: Modelling catchment erosion after wildfires in the San Gabriel Mountains of southern California. Geophysical Research Letters, 32: article L19401, doi: 10.1029/2005GL023635.
99. Salm, B., 2004: A short and personal history of snow avalanche dynamics. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 39: 83-92.
100. Salm, B., Burkard, A., and Gubler, H., 1990: Berechnung von Fliesslawinen: eine Anleitung für Praktiker mit Beispielen [Avalanche calculations: a practical method with examples]. Eidgenössische Institut für Schnee und Lawinenforschung, SLF Davos, Switzerland, Mitteilungen n. 47, 41 pp. (in German).
101. Salvadori, G., and De Michele, C., 2006: Statistical characterization of temporal structure of storms. Advances in Water Resources, 29: 827-842.
102. Schaerer, P. A., 1988: The yield of avalanche snow at Rogers pass, British Columbia, Canada. Journal of Glaciology, 34(117): 188-193.
103. Schrott, L., Hufschmidt, G., Hankammer, M., Hoffmann, T., and Dikau, R., 2003: Spatial distribution of sediment storage types and quantification of valley fill deposits in an alpine basin, Reintal, Bavarian Alps, Germany. Geomorphology, 55: 45-63.
104. Skaugen, T., 1999: Estimating the mean areal snow water equivalent by integration in time and space. Hydrological Processes, 13: 2051-2066.
105. Smith, D. J., McCarthy, D. P., and Luckman, B. H., 1994: Snow-avalanche impact pools in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 26(2): 116-127.
106. Smith, M. J., and McClung, D. M., 1997: Characteristics and prediction of high-frequency avalanche runout. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 29(3): 352-357.
107. Sovilla, B., 2002: Parametri di input per simulazioni di valanghe dense [Input parameters for dense snow avalanches simulation]. Course on avalanche dynamics, Eidgenössische Institut für Schnee und Lawinenforschung, SLF Davos, held in Bormio, 4-5 December (in Italian).
108. Sovilla, B., 2004: Field experiments and numerical modelling of mass entrainment and deposition
109. processes in snow avalanches. PhD thesis No. 15462. ETH Zurich, Switzerland (available at: http://www.slf.ch/staff/pers-home/ sovilla/sovillaen.html
110. Sovilla, B., and Bartelt, P., 2002: Observations and modelling of snow avalanche entrainment. Natural Hazards, 2: 169-179.
111. Sovilla, B., Burlando, P., and Bartelt, P., 2006: Field experiments and numerical modelling of mass entrainment in snow avalanches. Journal of Geophysical Research, 111: article F03007, doi: 10:1029/2005JF000391.
112. Sovilla, B., Margreth, S., and Bartelt, P., 2007: On snow entrainment in avalanche dynamics
113. calculations. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 47: 69-79.
114. Veblen, T. T., Hadley, K. S., Nel, E. M., Kitzberger, T., Reid, M., and Villalba, R., 1994: Disturbance regime and disturbance interactions in a Rocky Mountain subalpine forest. Journal of Ecology, 82: 125-135.
115. Veneziano, D., Iacobellis, V. P., and Furcolo, P., 2002: Multi-fractality of iterated pulse processes with pulse amplitudes generated by a random cascade. Fractals, 10(2): 209-222.
116. Voellmy, A., 1955: Über die Zerstörungskraft von lawinen [About the destructive force of avalanches]. Schwerizerische Bauzeitung, Jahrgang, 73.
117. Wagnon, P., Linda, A., Arnaud, Y., Kumar, R., Sharma, P., Vincent, C., Pottakkal, J. G., Berthier, E., Ramanathan, A., Hasnain, S. I., and Chevallier, P., 2007: Four years of mass balance on Chhota Shigri Glacier, Himachal Pradesh, India, a new benchmark glacier in the western Himalaya. Journal of Glaciology, 53(183): 603-611.
118. Wilby, R. L., and Wigley, T. M. L., 2002: Future changes in the distribution of daily precipitation totals across North America. Geophysical Research Letters, 29(7): 1135, doi: 10.1029/2001gl013048.