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Science Avalanche! It’s all about the anti-crack
Science Avalanche! It’s all about the anti-crack | Avalanche! It’s all about the anti-crack |
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| by William Atkins | |
| Sunday, 10 August 2008 | |
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Page 2 of 2 The researchers classify the structure of a snow pile as generally consisting of three layers. The middle layer is the most important layer when it comes to forming an avalanche. The way the middle layer is fractured controls whether a snow pile shears off (thus, forming a slab avalanche) or simply collapses under its own weight. In fact, Heierli states, “Some layers inside the snow are a very frail network of ice grains with lots of space in between. Some arrangements may crumble like a house of cards.” [Science News] The research team discovered this new information as they modeled slab avalanches, which are the most dangerous type of avalanche. They are very dangerous because the slab of snow can unexpectedly break loose and quickly flows downward to the bottom of the mountain slope. In fact, the Heierli team found that the scientific belief that the fracture itself is not easily created is not true. The fracturing process is actually very easily to create. They suggest that even very small layers of snow could fracture; in fact, much more easily that previous thought. The researchers suggest that skiers, for instance, traveling over flat snow or even across gentle slopes are not completely safe. According to Hoachim Heierli (School of Engineering and Electronics, University of Edinburgh, U.K.), the lead author of the study, “The new theory could be a breakthrough in understanding what is going on at the very moment when an avalanche begins.” [Science News]
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