Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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Item Meteorological controls on wind slab properties(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2023) de Leeuw, Nathalie Marika; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Jordy HendrikxSnow avalanches are dangerous phenomena, which can be made increasingly consequential through wind transport of snow. Wind-deposited snow has a broad range of possible physical and mechanical properties which can vary greatly over short distances, creating inconsistent and thus difficult avalanche conditions. This variability causes particular challenges for avalanche workers in data-sparse regions where important snowpack information at desired scales may be unavailable. Instead, snowpack properties are commonly inferred from available meteorological data. Though wind slab properties vary in space and time as meteorological conditions change, previous work has not explicitly studied these relationships at the slope-scale. In this research I aim to better understand how changes in meteorological variables relate to changes in wind slab physical properties. During two winters I recorded temperature, humidity, and wind speed at study sites in Montana's Madison Range (45.237, -111.424) and collected snowpack data during or immediately following blowing snow events. I found that average wind speeds at 0.5m and 1.5m above the snow surface were significantly higher during hard wind slab formation than soft wind slab formation, while unobstructed wind speed, maximum gust, and the length of time of wind transport were not associated with wind slab hardness. Temperature was higher during hard than soft wind slab formation, while humidity was not different between the two hardness categories. Although wind speed at 1.5m had a significant positive linear relationship with both wind slab density and blade hardness gauge force, it was a poor predictor of actual values for both of these parameters. Our findings help improve the understanding of the impact of near surface winds on wind slabs, which will aid avalanche forecasting and mitigation planning particularly in windy climates.Item An experimental investigation of metamorphism induced microstructure evolution in a 'model' cohesive snow(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1997) Edens, Michael QuastItem The spatial variability of snow resistance on potential avalanche slopes(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1990) Birkeland, Karl WesselItem Spatial and temporal analysis of snowpack strength and stability and environmental determinants on an inclined, forest opening(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2009) Lutz, Eric Robert; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Katherine J. Hansen; Karl Birkeland (co-chair)Avalanche hazard evaluation relies on snowpack stability observations. Because snowpack properties can vary extensively over time and space, estimating slope-scale stability is difficult. This study addressed these challenges by implementing a methodology that 1. quantified spatial and temporal patterns of snowpack stability, 2. identified spatial associations between the strength and stability of a weak layer and slab load, and radiation properties, 3. identified internal associations between weak layer thickness, shear strength, microstructural properties, and slab load. An instability associated with a buried surface hoar weak layer was examined on an inclined forest opening at Lionhead, southwest Montana, during February and March, 2005. During five sampling days, 824 snow depth and SnowMicroPen resistance profiles and 352 shear frame tests were performed. An objective texture-based stratigraphic sampling approach was developed to obtain microstructural estimates of a stratigraphic weakness and instability from SnowMicroPen profiles, utilizing the coefficient of variation of rupture force. Spatial models of hemispheric sky visibility, and incoming long- and shortwave radiation were generated for the surface hoar formation period using a Geographic Information System and independent optical observations. Despite relative topographic uniformity, in a distance of 30 m, the buried surface hoar weak layer thicknesses varied between 3 - 21 mm. Before burial, the surface hoar persisted despite moderate winds and above freezing air temperatures. Spatial patterns of modeled incoming longwave and shortwave radiation explained the large variation in weak layer thickness and strength properties. Areas exposed to large amounts of radiation contained a strong, thin buried surface hoar layer, while in areas with limited incoming longwave (due to high sky visibility) and shortwave radiation (due to shading), the layer was thicker and possessed low shear and microstructural strengths. Over time, the shear frame stability index and SnowMicroPen-derived microstrength of the surface hoar layer increased and values became spatially more variable (divergence): it became harder to predict stability as the snowpack became more stable. A loading event then decreased stability and micro-strength and caused spatial uniformity (convergence), thereby increasing predictive strength of observations. The findings illustrate the usefulness of the SnowMicroPen for evaluating spatial patterns and load-related changes in snowpack stability.