Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Snow gliding and glide avalanches: a review

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Snow gliding is a downhill motion of snow on the ground; it is able to affect afforestation (uprooting of plants) and to cause soil erosion. Once the glide motion turns into an avalanche movement, the process is called a glide avalanche. Winters with continuing snow gliding and a high activity of glide avalanches might be called ‘glide winters’. The most recent ‘glide winter’ in the European Alps was 2011/2012. Glide avalanches have the ability to cause damage to buildings and infrastructure. This review describes the progress in research, from basic snow glide measurements via the design of sophisticated models through to comprehensive investigations concerning glide avalanche formation. However, despite the great progress made in this field of research, there are still some unsolved problems, such as the influence of soil conditions on snow gliding or the prediction of glide avalanches.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akitaya E (1975) Studies of the behavior of snow cover on slope. V. Glide motion of snow and formation of crack. Low Temp Sci 33:103–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Akitaya E (1988) Behavior of a snow cover after crack formation on mountain slope. In ISSW 1988, international snow science workshop, Whistler; British Columbia, pp 179–186

  • Akitaya E, Endo Y (1984) Studies of the behavior of a snow cover on slope XVIII. Glide motion of snow and formation of crack in melting season. Low Temp Sci 43:49–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Ammer U, Pröbstl U, Mössmer EM (1986) Erosion auf Almen Ein Beitrag zu aktuellen Fragen des Bodenschutzes. Forstw Cbl 105:48–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bartelt P, Feistl T, Bühler Y, Buser O (2012a) Overcoming the stauchwall: viscoelastic stress redistribution and the start of full-depth gliding snow avalanches. Geophys. Res, Let 39

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartelt P, Pielmeier C, Margreth S, Harvey S, Stucki T (2012b) The understimated role of the Stauchwall in Full-Depth Avalanche Release. In ISSW 2012, international snow science workshop, Anchorage, Alaska, pp 127–133

  • Brown CB, Evans RJ, McClung D (1972) Incorporation of glide and creep measurements in snow slab mechanics. Advances in North American avalanche technology 1972 symposium, pp 7–13

  • Bucher E (1948) Beitrag zu den theoretischen Grundlagen des Lawinenverbaus. Beiträge zur Geologie der Schweiz—Geotechnische Serie—Hydrologie Lieferung 6, Kümmerly & Frey, Bern

  • Ceaglio E, Freppaz M, Filippa G, Ferraris S, Zanini E, Segor V (2012) A characterization of snow gliding and potential predisposing factors in a full-depth slab avalanche release area (Valle D’aosta, NW Italian Alps). In ISSW 2012, international snow science workshop, Anchorage, Alaska, pp 561–568

  • Clarke J, McClung D (1999) Full-depth avalanche occurrences caused by snow gliding, Coquihalla, British Columbia, Canada. J Glaciol 45(151):539–546

    Google Scholar 

  • Coaz J (1881) Die Lawinen der Schweizeralpen. J Dalp‘sche Buch—und Kunsthandlung, Bern

  • de Quervain M (1966) Problems of Avalanche Research, IAHS-Publ. No. 69, pp 15–22

  • EISLF—Eidg. Institut für Schnee und Lawinenforschung (ed) (1967) Schnee und Lawinen in den Schweizer Alpen Winter 1965/66, Winterbericht des Eidg. Institutes für Schnee und Lawinenforschung Davos, p 136

  • EISLF—Eidg. Institut für Schnee und Lawinenforschung (ed) (1976) Schnee und Lawinen in den Schweizer Alpen Winter 1974/75, Winterbericht des Eidg. Institutes für Schnee und Lawinenforschung Davos, p 231

  • Eidg. Inspektion für Forstwesen (ed) (1961) Lawinenverbau im Anbruchgebiet. Mitteilungen des Eidgenössischen Institutes für Schnee-und Lawinenforschung, 15:60

  • Endo Y (1984) Glide processes of a snow cover as a release mechanism of an avalanche on a slope covered with bamboo bushes. Contr Inst Low Temp Sci 32:39–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Endo Y (1985) Release mechanism of an avalanche on a slope covered with bamboo bushes. Ann Glaciol 6:256–257

    Google Scholar 

  • Endo Y, Akitaya E (1978) Glide mechanism of a snow cover on a slope covered with bamboo-bushes. Low Temp Sci 35:91–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Etter H, Zweifel B, Dürr L (2011) Schnee und Lawinen in den Schweizer Alpen.Hydrologisches Jahr 2007/08. Davos, WSL-Institut für Schnee-und Lawinenforschung SLF, 93 S

  • Eugster HP (1938) Schneestudien im Oberwallis und ihre Anwendung auf den Lawinenverbau. Beiträge zur Geologie der Schweiz—Geotechnische Serie—Hydrologie Lieferung 2, Kümmerly & Frey, Bern

  • Fankhauser F (1918) Die Notwendigkeit einer Umgestaltung unseres Aufforstungsverfahrens im Gebirge. Schweiz Zeitschrift für Forstwesen 69:25–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Fankhauser F (1928) Über Lawinen und Lawinenverbau. Beiheft Nr. 2 zur Schweiz. Zeitschrift für Forstwesen, pp 13–46

  • Feick S, Brunner S, Mitterer C, Schweizer J (2011) Automated detection and analysis of gliding snow, geophysical research abstracts, 13:EGU2011–13923

  • Feick S, Mitterer C, Dreier L, Harvey S, Schweizer J (2012) Automated detection and monitoring of glide-snow events using satellite based optical remote sensing and terrestrial photography. In ISSW 2012, international snow science workshop, Anchorage, Alaska, pp 603–609

  • Flaig W (1935) Lawinen. Brockhaus, Leipzig, p 173

    Google Scholar 

  • Frutiger H, Kuster J (1967) Über das Gleiten und Kriechen der Schneedecke in Lawinenverbauungen. Schweiz Zeitschrift für Forstwesen 10:633–643

    Google Scholar 

  • Haefeli R (1939) Schneemechanik mit Hinweisen auf die Erdbaumechanik. In: Der Schnee und seine Metamorphose. Beiträge zur Geologie der Schweiz—Geotechnische Serie—Hydrologie, Lieferung 3, Kümmerly und Frey, Bern, pp 65–241

  • Haefeli R (1948) Schnee, Lawinen, Firn und Gletscher. In: Bendel L (ed) Ingenieur-Geologie, 2. Band. Springer, Wien, pp 663–735

  • Haefeli R (1963) Stress transformations, tensile strengths and rupture processes of the snow cover. In: Kingery WD (ed) Ice and snow. MIT Press, Separatdruck, pp 560–575

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendrikx J, Peitzsch E, Fagre D (2010) A practitioner’s tool for assessing glide crack activity. In ISSW 2010, international snow science workshop, Squaw Valley, California, pp 395–396

  • Hendrikx J, Peitzsch E, Fagre D (2012) Time-lapse photography as an approach to understanding Glide avalanche activity. In ISSW 2012, international snow science workshop, Anchorage, Alaska, pp 872–877

  • Hess E (1936) Erfahrungen über Lawinenverbauungen. Eidg. Department des Innern, Bern, p 123

    Google Scholar 

  • Höller P (1997) Das Schnegleiten auf verschieden bewirtschafteten Flächen nahe der Waldgrenze. Centralblatt f d ges Forstw 114:97–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Höller P (2001) Snow gliding and avalanches in a south-facing larch stand. In: Soil-vegetation—atmosphere schemes and large-scale hydrological models (proceeding of Maastricht symposium, July 2001). IAHS Publ. No. 270, pp 355–358

  • Höller P (2012) Zur Bestimmung schneegleitgefährdeter Standorte und Planung von Gleitschutzmaßnahmen und Hochlagenaufforstungen. Allg Forst Jagdztg 183:94–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Höller P (2013) Snow gliding on a south-facing slope covered with larch trees. Ann Forest Sci. doi:10.1007/s13595-013-0333-5

  • Höller P, Bilek H (2012) Lawinenunfälle in Österreich—Winter 2011/2012. Sicherheit im Bergland—Jahrbuch 2012. Österreichisches Kuratorium für alpine Sicherheit, pp 156–185

  • Höller P, Fromm R, Leitinger G (2009) Snow forces on forest plants due to creep and glide. For Ecol Manage 257:546–552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • In der Gand H (1954) Beitrag zum Problem des Gleitens der Schneedecke auf dem Untergrund. Winterb des EISLF 17:103–117

    Google Scholar 

  • In der Gand H (1956) Spezielle Schnee- und Lawinenuntersuchungen im Parsenngebiet. Lawinen und Gleitschnee. Winterb des EISLF 19:93–101

  • In der Gand H (1957) Ergebnisse der Gleitmessung. Winterb des EISLF 20:111–114

    Google Scholar 

  • In der Gand H (1959) Ergebnisse der Gleitmessung. Winterb des EISLF 12:122–126

    Google Scholar 

  • In der Gand H (1968a) Neue Erkenntnisse über das Schneegleiten. Schweiz Bauztg 86(31):557–661

    Google Scholar 

  • In der Gand H (1968b) Aufforstungsversuche an einem Gleitschneehang. Mitteilungen der Schweizer Anstalt für das Forstliche Versuchswesen 44:233–326

    Google Scholar 

  • In der Gand H, Zupancic M (1966) Snow Gliding and Avalanches, IAHS-Publ. No. 69, pp 230–242

  • Jones A (2004) Review of glide processes and glide avalanche release. Avalanche News 69:53–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Lackinger B (1981) Akustische und seismische Messungen in der Schneedecke zur Frühwarnung vor Lawinen-Abbrüchen. Sicherheit im Bergland—Jahrbuch 1981. Österreichisches Kuratorium für alpine Sicherheit, pp 205–213

  • Lackinger B (1984) Schnee—und Lawinenforschung am Institut für Bodenmechanik, Felsmechanik und Grundbau. Mitteilungen der Forstlichen Bundesversuchsanstalt 153:155–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Lackinger B (1986) Lawinenmessfelder und die Lawinenmessstation auf der Innsbrucker Nordkette. Z Gletscherk Glazialgeol 22(1):79–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Lackinger B (1987) Stability and fracture of the snow pack for glide avalanches. IAHS-Publ. 162, pp 229–240

  • Lackinger B (1988) Zum Problem der Gleitschneelawine. Proceeding of interpraevent 1988, Graz, Band 3, S. pp 205–226

  • Leitinger G, Höller P, Tasser E, Walde J, Tappeiner U (2008) Development and validation of a spatial snow-glide model. Ecol Model 211:363–374

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Margreth S (2007) Defense structures in avalanche starting zones. Technical guideline as an aid to enforcement. Environment in Practice no. 0704. Federal Office for the Environment, Bern; WSL Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos, p 134

  • McClung D (1975) Creep and the snow—earth interface condition. In: Snow mechanics (proceeding of Grindelwald symposium, April 1974), IAHS Publ. No. 114, pp 236–248

  • McClung D (1980) Creep and glide processes in mountain snowpacks. Nat. Hydr. Research Inst. Canada, Paper No. 6, p 66

  • McClung D (1981) A physical theory of snow gliding. Can Geotech J 18:86–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClung D (1987) Mechanics of snow slab failure from a geotechnical perspective. international association of hydrological sciences publication 162 (Symposium at Davos 1986—avalanche formation, movement and effects), pp 475–508

  • McClung D, Clarke GKC (1987) The effects of free water on snow gliding. J Geophys Res 92 (B7):6301–6309

    Google Scholar 

  • McClung D, Schaerer P (2006) The avalanche handbook. The Mountaineers Books, Seattle, p 342

    Google Scholar 

  • McClung D, Walker S, Golley W (1994) Characteristics of snow gliding on rock. Ann Glaciol 19:97–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Merwald I (1985) Lawinenereignisse und Witterungsablauf in Österreich, Winter1974/75, 1975/76, 1976/77. FBVA-Berichte 10

  • Mitterer C, Schweizer J (2012) Towards a better understanding of glide-snow avalanche formation. In ISSW 2012, international snow science workshop, Anchorage, Alaska, pp 610–616

  • Newesely C, Tasser E, Spadinger P, Cernusca A (2000) Effects of land-use changes on snow gliding processes in alpine ecosystems. Basic Appl Ecol 1(1):61–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nohguchi Y (1989) A mathematical model for instability in snow gliding motion. Ann Glaciol 13:211–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Nye JF (1969) A calculation on the sliding of ice over a wavy surface using a Newtonian viscous approximation. Proc R Soc A 311:445–467

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paulcke W (1938) Praktische Schnee- und Lawinenkunde. Springer, Berlin, p 218

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Peitzsch E, Hendrikx J, Fagre D, Reardon B (2010) Characterizing wet slab and glide avalanche occurrence along the going-to-the-sun road corridor, glacier national park, Montana. In ISSW 2010, international snow science workshop, Squaw Valley, California, pp 651–659

  • Peitzsch E, Hendrikx J, Fagre D, Reardon B (2012) Examining spring wet slab and glide avalanche occurrence along the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor, Glacier national park, Montana, USA. Cold Reg Sci Technol 78:73–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pielmeier C, Stucki T, Aebi M, Bründl M, Etter HJ, Rhyner J, Wiesinger T (2004) Schnee und Lawinen in den Schweizer Alpen. Hydrologisches Jahr 2002/03. WSL-Institut für Schnee-und Lawinenforschung SLF, Davos, p 117

    Google Scholar 

  • Pielmeier C, Darms G, Techel F (2012) Wetter, Schneedecke und Lawinengefahr in den Schweizer Alpen—Hydrologisches Jahr 2011/12. WSL-Institut für Schnee-und Lawinenforschung SLF, Davos, p 32

    Google Scholar 

  • Reardon B, Fagre D, Dundas M, Lundy C (2006) Natural Glide Slab Avalanches, Glacier National Park, USA: a unique hazard and forecasting challenge. In ISSW 2006, international snow science workshop, Telluride, Colorado, pp 778–785

  • Rice B, Howlett D, Decker R (1996) Preliminary investigations of glide/creep motion sensors in Alta, Utah. In ISSW’96, international snow science workshop, Banff, pp 189–194

  • Salm B (1977) Snow forces. J Glaciol 19(81):67–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Salm B (1979) Snow forces on forest plants. Proc IUFRO Semin Mt Forests Avalanches Davos 1978:157–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Sampl P, Granig M (2009) Avalanche simulation with SAMOS-AT. In ISSW 2009, international snow science workshop, Davos, pp 519–523

  • Sampl P, Zwinger P (2004) Avalanche simulation with SAMOS. Ann Glaciol 38:393–398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seligman G (1936) Snow structure and ski fields. Reprinted in 1980 by the International Glaciological Society, Cambridge, p 555

  • Shoda M (1967) Aerial Observations and Thin Section Studies on Avalanches. Proc Conf Phys Snow Ice Sapporo Jpn 1967:1137–1149

    Google Scholar 

  • Simenhois R, Birkeland K (2010) Meteorological and environmental observations from three glide avalanche cycles and the resulting hazard management technique. In ISSW 2010, international snow science workshop, Squaw Valley, California, pp 846–853

  • Stimberis J, Rubin C (2004) Glide avalanche detection on a smooth rock slope; Snowqualmie Pass, Washington. In ISSW 2004, international snow science workshop, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, pp 608–610

  • Stimberis J, Rubin C (2008) Rockface glide avalanche detection. In ISSW 2008, international snow science workshop, Whisler, pp 698–700

  • Stimberis J, Rubin C (2009) Glide avalanche response to an extreme rain-on-snow event, Snowqualmie Pass, Washington, USA. In ISSW 2009, international snow science workshop, Davos, pp 301–305

  • Stimberis J, Rubin C (2011) Glide avalanche response to an extreme rain-on-snow event, Snowqualmie Pass, Washington, USA. J Glaciol 57:468–474

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Unesco (ed) (1981) Avalanche Atlas, Paris, p 265

  • van Herwijnen A, Simenhois R (2012) Monitoring glide avalanches using time-lapse photography. In ISSW 2012, international snow science workshop, Anchorage, Alaska, pp 899–903

  • Voight B (1988) A method for prediction of volcanic eruptions. Nature 332:125–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson A, Statham G, Bilak R, Allen B (1996) Glide avalanche forecasting. In ISSW’96, international snow science workshop, Banff, pp 200–202

  • Yamada Y (1977) On a new method for snow gliding measurement—gear-type glide-meter. Rep NRCDP 21:89–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamada Y, Nohguchi Y, Ikarashi (1991) Snow avalanche release due to instability of snow Glide motion. In: Japan-US Workshop on Snow, Avalanche, Landslide, Debris Flow Prediction and Control, Sept 30–Oct 2 1991, Tsukuba, Japan, Proceeding of Japanese Science and Technology Agency, pp 105–114

  • Zdarsky M (1929) Beiträge zur Lawinenkunde. A-B-Z Druck und Verlagsanstalt, Wien, p 127

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

I am very grateful to R. Fromm for reading this paper and for the valuable comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Natural Hazards, Federal Research Centre for Forests (BFW), 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    P. Höller

Authors
  1. P. Höller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. Höller.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Höller, P. Snow gliding and glide avalanches: a review. Nat Hazards 71, 1259–1288 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0963-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0963-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation