Das Projekt "High Resolution Radar Imaging of Snow Avalanches" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft.The aim of this project is to study the dynamics of mixed avalanches with the aid of an advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW), phased array, radar that provides high resolution 2-D animated imaging and velocity data of the avalanche dense core. The instrument to be used in this project improves over early instruments to study geophysical flows by two orders of magnitude in range resolution as well as having other advantages. Geophysical mass flows, such as snow avalanches, are a major hazard in mountainous areas and have a significant impact on the infrastructure, economy and tourism of such regions. Obtaining a thorough understanding of the dynamics of snow avalanches is crucial for the development of numerical models for hazard mapping and for the development of design criteria for infrastructure so that it can withstand avalanche impact. The aim of this project is to study the dynamics of mixed avalanches with the aid of an advanced Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW), phased array, radar that provides high resolution 2-D animated imaging and velocity data of the avalanche dense core. The instrument to be used in this project improves over early instruments to study geophysical flows by two orders of magnitude in range resolution as well as having other advantages. This means that the observations can be directly related to those from other sensors at the Vallée de la Sionne (VDLS) avalanche test site, where the radar is installed. These other observations include air pressure, velocity and density. The synergy gained by combing all these observations has the capability to transform our understanding of a whole class of environmental mass flows; not just avalanches but also pyroclastic flows that contain similar physics. By being able to follow flow features over the whole track we expect the radar data to be of major importance in validating existing theories and developing improved avalanche models.
