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CLIMAX AVALANCHE [1 record]

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Record 1 2006-11-22

English

Subject field(s)
  • Atmospheric, Climatic and Meteorological Phenomena
DEF

An avalanche that approaches maximum size and runout for a given path.

CONT

Climax Avalanche. ... The distinguishing characteristic of this type of avalanche is that it contains a large proportion of old snow and is caused by conditions that have developed over a period of time--at least one month and possibly an entire season. They occur infrequently because they require an unusual combination of favorable factors. Whenever they occur, the penetration of a climax fracture is always in great depth, usually to the ground. They travel farther and spread out wider than ordinary avalanches on the same slide path. On heavy snow years these avalanches may travel farther than the normal slide path, and destroy forests and structures.

CONT

A natural avalanche starting in a buried surface hoar layer on a southerly slope near Revelstoke stepped down to ground to become a 4 m deep, 700 m wide, and 2 km long (size 4) climax avalanche!

CONT

Climax avalanches usually occur in spring. [Example approved by the Avalanche Bulletin Terminology Standardization Committee.]

OBS

The climax avalanche could be at or close to full depth and it has a very high volume.

CONT

If a climax avalanche releases all of the season's snowcover, it is also called a "ground avalanche".

OBS

climax avalanche: term officially approved by the Avalanche Bulletin Terminology Standardization Committee.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Phénomènes météorologiques, climatiques et atmosphériques
DEF

Avalanche qui affecte les trois zones du couloir d'avalanche.

CONT

Les avalanches majeures se produisent généralement au printemps. [Exemple entériné par le Comité d'uniformisation de la terminologie des bulletins d'avalanche.]

OBS

De fait, l'avalanche majeure peut être une avalanche de grande ampleur qui touche ou atteint presque la limite inférieure de la zone de dépôt et qui peut entraîner une grande partie du manteau neigeux qui se trouve dans le couloir, ou même le manteau au complet.

OBS

avalanche majeure : terme uniformisé par le Comité d'uniformisation de la terminologie des bulletins d'avalanche.

Spanish

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