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Avalanche Forecast Worsens With Warming

Larry O'Hanlon, Discovery News

"We know a lot about controlling dry avalanches and not about wet avalanches," said Ethan Greene, director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. "You talk to people who work on big wet avalanches and they say they're different animals."

Greene helps supply ski areas and the Colorado highway department with avalanche forecasts. If wet avalanches become more common, he said, it could very well push ahead the science of avalanche forecasting and control, which is a good thing.

"As they get more wet," said Greene, "we will need to find better ways to deal with them."

As for which type of avalanche is more dangerous, that's a draw, Lazar told Discovery News.

"Hazard has more to do with its size," Lazar said. "Wet avalanches tend to move slower, but they tend to carry more weight."

The effects of global warming on skiing in general will be significant. The snow line will move up the mountains, with ski seasons beginning later and melting happening earlier, he said. It all depends, of course, on what climate model and greenhouse gas emissions scenario you look at, he said.

"There'll still be snow to ski, but avalanches will likely become a problem," Lazar said. "For those of us who are adults now, we'll still be able to ski. But it's a concern for our kids and grandkids."

Related Links:

Larry O'Hanlon's blog: Earth Impacts

How Stuff Works: Avalanches