Avalanche Initiaition Mechanism - A Finite-element Approach

Abstract

The Himalayas, the longest chain of mountains in the world, experiences extensive snowfall and avalanche activity during winter. Some of these areas are densely populated, and death and destruction on large scale due to avalanche activity has been reported in these areas. One of the ways of reducing the loss of life and material due to avalanches is through prediction of avalanches. An understanding of weather forecasting, terrain, and avalanche initiation mechanism is a prerequisite for avalanche prediction. In the present paper mathematical modelling of avalanche initiation mechanism has been discussed.