The Relationship between upper elevation weather data and snow accumulations in nearby avalanche starting zones
Date
1995
Authors
Kelly, Lorne Douglas
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Abstract
Snow accumulations during seven time periods were measured on three transects in the Cascade mountains near Hope, British Columbia. Two of the transects were in avalanche starting zones, the third was in an opening in the forest nearby. The measured accumulations were correlated to weather parameters recorded at upper elevation weather stations 4 kilometres away. A single regression model was developed to predict snow accumulation at the starting zone transects. A new parameter, combining the observed average wind vector with each transect aspect, was used to represent the effective loading wind at the starting zones.
Precipitation was by far the best predictor of snow accumulation. The other parameters made little contribution to the model.