Earthquake-induced snow avalanches: II. Experimental study

Abstract

We conducted experiments on the stability of snow, subjecting snow to vibrations, with the aim of improving our understanding of poorly studied mechanisms behind the triggering of avalanches during earthquakes. Most experiments were carried out on a specially constructed shaking table using artificial snowpacks containing a weak layer. Accelerations in the snow samples were measured using high-frequency sensors, enabling calculation of vibration-induced stresses within the snow at the moment of fracture. We used a high-speed camera to film different types of fracturing. In all cases, the vibrations caused failure of the snow by fracturing along the weak layer or at the base of the snow sample. An additional inertial stress induced by accelerations normal to the shear plane was quantified. We find that this stress can be related to smaller values of the shear strength in snow.