Assessing risks from glacier hazards in high mountain regions: some experiences in the Swiss Alps

Abstract

Assessing risks from potential glacier hazards in relation to safety considerations for settlements and other fixed installations in high mountain areas requires the application of experience gained from previous events, combined with simple rules derived from basic geological theory. As a result of such systematic assessments, maps of potentially dangerous zones can be prepared. In order to plan reasonable safety measures, risks from glacier hazards have to be compared with those from other natural hazards in mountain areas, such as snow avalanches, landslides, rock falls, or storm-induced floods. Decisions about the acceptable level of risk are difficult and subjective; they are also often influenced by political and economical considerations rather than by scientific reasoning. -from Authors